Jun 13, 2024 Golf Club Advisory Board

[00:00:09]

COMMISSION CHAMBERS.

ITEM ONE IS THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

ALLEGIANCE].

ITEM FOUR APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

TIME. NO, HOLD THAT A SECOND.

IT'S BEEN CALLED TO MY ATTENTION.

THERE'S A SLIGHT ERROR IN THE MINUTES.

ITEM ONE, CALL TO ORDER SAYS 5 P.M.

INSTEAD OF 4 P.M.

THEY COULD HAVE THAT CORRECTED AND THEN.

YES, SIR. CHAIR PELICAN.

SCOTT MICHAELSON, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.

WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THAT IS WE CAN JUST MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH THAT SMALL CHANGE AND THEN GET A SECOND AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH YOU KNOW, THE VOTING.

THAT'D BE FINE. YEAH.

SO IF YOU IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH THE SMALL CHANGE OF THE FIVE FROM THE FOUR TO THE OR FROM THE 5 TO 2, FOUR, AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD MOTION SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES WITH THE CHANGE FOR THE TIME.

ALRIGHT. OKAY.

THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

ITEM FIVE PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

[5. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITMES NOT ON THE AGENDA]

NO, WE DID ROLL CALL.

YEAH, I WAS ASLEEP.

210 NORTH THIRD STREET, FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA.

SO WE ARE IN BUDGET SEASON AND AS YOU KNOW, THE GOLF COURSE IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.

SO THEY BUDGET, THEY HAVE THEIR REVENUES AND THEY HAVE THEIR EXPENSES AND THOSE TWO HAVE TO MATCH BECAUSE THE FUND.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAN ADD TO THEIR REVENUE IS IF THE CITY TAKES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH ARE YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND SUBSIDIZE THEM LIKE THEY DO AT THE MARINA EVERY YEAR, AND THEY HAVE DONE IN THE PAST WITH THE GOLF COURSE.

SO MY QUESTION TO YOU, BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE BUDGET SEASON AND I'VE BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION IS FIRST QUESTION IS WOULD YOU TRANSFER MONEY FROM THE GENERAL TAXPAYER FUND? AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALLEGEDLY GOING TO ROLLBACK RATE, WHICH MEANS WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS WE HAD LAST YEAR, PLUS $500,000 FOR GROWTH.

SO IT'S NOT MUCH MORE MONEY.

THERE'S A 3% INCREASE IN SALARIES.

SO 3% TIMES 18 MILLION.

YOU CAN FIGURE THAT OUT.

WE WANT TO ADD THREE NEW POLICEMEN, THREE NEW FIREFIGHTERS.

SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS TAXPAYERS AND ADVISORY BOARD IS SHOULD THE CITY IN THEIR BUDGET TAKE MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND PUT IT INTO THE GOLF COURSE AND THEN IF SO, HOW MUCH? ANY THOUGHTS? DO I GET TO START? I'VE SEEN. I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU SPEECHLESS.

CHARLIE, YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS? WELL, I MEAN, HOW MUCH DO WE TAKE OUT LAST YEAR? 200? WELL, I THINK WE NEED AT LEAST THAT MUCH THIS YEAR.

OKAY. AT LEAST THAT MUCH.

SO A YOU WOULD SUBSIDIZE IT, AND B, AT LEAST THAT MUCH.

SI? WHAT'S C? IT'S SPANISH FOR YES.

I THOUGHT IT WAS OPTION C.

YOU'RE COMING NORTH, SO I THOUGHT I'DPRACTICE.

YEAH. WHAT? DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? NO, THAT'S MY TWO QUESTIONS.

SO AT LEAST 200, 300, 400, 500.

WELL, I THINK WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.

SO 200.

THAT'S MY OPINION ANYWAY.

[00:05:02]

KEEP IT THE SAME.

HOPEFULLY THE COURSE WILL, WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING, BE STARTING TO GENERATE MORE REVENUES.

SO UNLESS YOU KNOW SO MANY MAJOR PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT NEED TO BE PURCHASED YET FOR THE COURSE, I KNOW THEY PUT IN THE NEW PUMP LAST YEAR. WELL, TWO MOWERS BROKE DOWN.

SO EACH ONE OF THOSE IS $100,000 TO REPLACE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

SURE. CAN WE GET A ROUGH FORECAST OF REVENUE AND EXPENSES A YEAR TO DATE AND THEN EXPECTED THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR? SURE. GO TO THE ACTUALLY, IF YOU GO TO THE MEETING FOR THE UPCOMING MEETING NEXT TUESDAY, GO TO THE.

I THINK IT'S THE THIRD OR FOURTH ITEM, WHICH IS THE COMPTROLLER'S REPORT AND YOU CAN GO IN THERE AND IT'S IN EXCRUCIATING DETAIL.

THE WHOLE THE BUDGET AND WHAT'S BEEN SPENT AND [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. I HAPPENED TO LOOK AT THAT DOCUMENT BEFORE COMING, AND I CAN SEE WHERE WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE SHORT ON THE REVENUE SIDE THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

I THINK WE ALWAYS ARE.

I THINK IT'S ALWAYS BUDGETED OPTIMISTICALLY AND THEN OCTOBER 15TH, MONEY GETS MOVED AROUND TO ACTUALLY SEPTEMBER 30TH, 29TH.

BUT THAT'S WHEN IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.

OKAY. THE MONEY GETS MOVED.

SO IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT GOLF COURSE IS NOT READY TO BE REVENUE EXPENSE NEUTRAL AT THIS POINT.

I COULD LOOK AT IT AND I COULD COME UP WITH I WOULDN'T WANT TO HAZARD THAT GUESS NOW, BUT I WOULD GUESS IT'S EXCLUDING STUFF LIKE THE MAJOR PUMP REPLACEMENT THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR.

IT HAS BEEN. YEAH. BUT THE COURT ORDER WAS PUT IN AND THAT'S BEING FINANCED AT 35 TO 40,000 A QUARTER AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SURPLUS BASED ON THE CARTS TURNED IN.

HOWEVER, THAT SURPLUS WILL QUICKLY RUN THROUGH THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF QUARTERS I WOULD THINK.

SO YES, I THINK THE GOLF COURSE NEEDS TO BE SUBSIDIZED TO SOME DEGREE.

IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN. I THINK UNLESS YOU GO BACK TO ANCIENT HISTORY, WHICH IS LIKE GREATER THAN TEN YEARS.

WELL, IT EFFECTIVELY IS AND ANY HAZARDS AND HOW MUCH IT SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZED.

WELL I THINK ASIDE FROM THE TOP TRACER PROJECT, IT'S REALLY BEEN RUN ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET.

REALLY. I MEAN, THAT WHOLE PROJECT WAS THE ATTEMPT TO GET AHEAD OF EVERYTHING AND CREATE MASSIVE REVENUE THAT WOULD SUBSIDIZE THE OPERATION AND IT HASN'T WORKED OUT LIKE THAT.

BUT JUST TALKING TO PEOPLE, HOW THE GOLF COURSE WAS EVEN INITIALLY BUILT, IT WAS BUILT ON A SHOESTRING AS WELL, AS FAR AS.

IT HASN'T REALLY BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REPLACED EITHER.

SO THAT'S A MUCH GREATER TOPIC THAN PROBABLY A SHORT TERM BUDGET.

RIGHT NOW I'M LOOKING AT NOVEMBER.

SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN THE NEXT 3 OR 4 MONTHS? I MEAN, IT'S THE NEXT BUDGET.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE'S SOME BIG ISSUES.

BUT WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN, BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US, IS AND WE HAD A BUDGET COMING UP.

WOULD YOU ADD TAKE WOULD YOU ADD ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED OR PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE BUDGET? SUBSIDIZE IT? WELL, AS A PERSONAL OPINION, I PROBABLY WOULD, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE.

WAIT WELL, YOU DO VOTE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE AN ISSUE AS FAR AS BEING A COMMISSIONER WILLING TO STAND FOR HONEST BUDGETING FOR WHAT'S ACTUALLY NEEDED WITHOUT.

WELL, THERE'S A NOVEL THOUGHT, THE WHOLE ROLLBACK ISSUE AND THINGS AND YOU'VE BEEN KIND OF A LONE VOICE ON THAT ISSUE.

BUT REALISTICALLY, IT NEEDS A FAIR AMOUNT OF SUBSIDY AT THIS POINT.

OKAY. FAIR. ANY THOUGHTS? I GUESS WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS REAL SIMPLE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS GOING FORWARD, AND ONE OF THEM COULD BE TOP TRACER.

[00:10:02]

ONCE IT'S IMPROVED, I STILL BELIEVE THAT CLOSING TOP TRACER AND FOCUSING ON WHAT MAKES A GOLF COURSE WORK IS HAVING A GOOD DRIVING RANGE.

HAVING THE ABILITY TO FOCUS ON WHAT PEOPLE GO TO A GOLF COURSE FOR, YOU KNOW, TOP TRACER WAS POORLY MANAGED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF HOW IT WAS BUILT AND THE THINGS THAT WERE LEFT OUT, LIKE THE REVENUE THAT COMES FROM A BAR AND FOOD THAT WAS LEFT OUT, THAT IS 60 TO 65% OF WHAT TOP GOLF GETS, AND THE OTHER IS 35% FROM THE ACTUAL PLAYING OF THE GAME OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, SO I TAKE IT FROM YOU, I THINK TAKING A HIT ON TOP TRACER AND CLOSING IT DOWN AND MAKING SURE THAT THE MONEY AND THE REVENUE THAT IS TAKEN FROM THAT VENUE IS PLACED BACK INTO THE DRIVING RANGE BECAUSE WE NEED, YOU KNOW, NEW NETS.

WE NEED THE ABILITY TO PUT A SURFACE OUT THERE ON THE OUR DRIVING RANGE, FIX THE DRAINAGE.

YEAH, YEAH.

SO I'M TAKING IT FROM YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZED, BUT YOU'RE UNCLEAR AS TO THE AMOUNT.

YES. OKAY.

FAIR ENOUGH. I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.

WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON.

ITEM SIX DISCUSSION ITEMS 6.1 INTRODUCTION OF NEW DIRECTOR JEFFREY BIGGERS.

[6.1 Introduction Of New Director: Jeffery Biggers]

SO I'M HERE.

I HAVE STAFF IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER JEREMIAH AND HE'S GOT A LOT GOING ON, TOO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT THE NEW DIRECTOR.

THERE'S A HUGE LEARNING CURVE.

I PERSONALLY AM EXTREMELY EXCITED THAT HE'S HERE.

I THINK HE'S THE RIGHT FIT.

THE GOLF COURSE HAS HAD TURNOVER WITH THE DIRECTORS, SUPERINTENDENTS, AND IT'S VITAL TO THE GOLF COURSE THAT WE HAVE SOME LONGEVITY IN SOME REALLY IMPORTANT POSITIONS.

BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID I WILL HAVE SOME COMMENTS REGARDING THE BUDGET AND WHERE WE ARE IN THAT UNDER STAFF COMMENTS, AND WE CAN GO FROM THERE.

BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO INTRODUCE JEFFREY BIGGERS AS THE NEW GOLF COURSE DIRECTOR.

HE HAS A FEW THINGS TO SAY AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON.

BUT WITH THAT, SAID JEFFREY, PLEASE.

JEFFREY BIGGERS, NEW GM, FERNANDINA BEACH GOLF CLUB.

REAL QUICK, I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT NINE DAYS.

THE ASSESSMENT I'VE GOT IT'S BEEN GOOD TO AN EXTENT.

I DID WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.

MOST RECENTLY, I CAME FROM JEKYLL ISLAND.

I WAS THE HEAD PROFESSIONAL THERE FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.

PRIOR TO THAT, I WAS IN ATLANTA AREA AND MOST OF MY CAREER BEFORE THAT WAS IN THE CAROLINAS.

AS FAR AS ME PERSONALLY, I HAVE TWO KIDS.

ONE LIVES IN HAWAII, ONE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BOTH WERE IN THE MARINES.

SO I'VE JUST MOVED DOWN HERE KIND OF BY MYSELF.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

A FEW SMALL UPDATES.

VERY SIMPLE. JUST WHAT I'VE SEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE GOLF COURSE AT THE CLUB.

THE NETTING.

I'VE TALKED WITH GENTLEMAN, MR. JASON CABALLA. SEE IF WE CAN GET MAYBE AN ESTIMATE ON THAT.

HE'S BEEN OUT BEFORE, I BELIEVE.

DID GET THE STAFF ON THE MAINTENANCE TO GO OUT AND DO SOME CHEMICALS AROUND THAT NETTING OFF NUMBER ONE NORTH, BECAUSE I'M STILL GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE GOLF COURSES TO TRY TO KILL SOME OF THAT, BECAUSE IT'S STARTING TO GROW UP ALREADY.

A COUPLE OF THINGS GOING ON AT THE CLUB JUST GOT I'VE GOTTEN FROM THE STAFF, WHICH I MUST SAY, THE STAFF'S BEEN GREAT.

[00:15:06]

WE'VE GOT A STEAK NIGHT ON THE 21ST.

THAT'S GOING TO BE.

I THINK WE HAVE 22 OR 3 SIGNED UP SO FAR, AND IT'S BEEN A LITTLE SLOW, BUT WE HAVE A NINE AND DINE ON JUNE 30TH.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M AT TRYING TO GET MY HEAD WRAPPED AROUND THE FACILITY.

OTHER THAN THAT, I AM GOING TO TRY TO ATTEMPT TO PICK UP THE NEWSLETTER AND KEEP THAT GOING.

I THINK COMMUNICATION IS KEY.

EMAILS TO YOU GUYS MEMBERSHIP EVENTUALLY MEET WITH THE MGA LADIES ASSOCIATION.

JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT I KNOW.

I'VE GOT TO GET IN, GET SETTLED.

UNDERSTAND? THERE'S A LOT BEHIND THE SCENES.

I'VE NEVER WORKED FOR THE CITY.

I THINK, LIKE SCOTT SAID, THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE THERE.

BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I'M HERE. I'M READY.

LOOK FORWARD TO IT. SO OTHER THAN THAT I'M STILL REALLY GETTING TO KNOW THE STAFF, WHAT I HAVE, THEY'RE GREAT AND ASSESSING THE OPERATIONS AS A WHOLE AND IF ANY OF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO MEET, STOP BY MY OFFICE.

WE COULD SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, GIVE ME A CALL, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

OKAY. WELCOME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? MR. BIGGERS? DO YOU HAVE ANY? NO, NOT AT THIS TIME.

TWO NEW. I JUST WANT TO SAY THERE'S THREE OF US HERE THAT DID THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE RIGHT JOB AND I HOPE THAT WE ALL LOOK AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF SUPPORT, BECAUSE IT IS A LEARNING PROCESS. AND BY FAR, YOU KNOW, SEVEN DAYS ON THE JOB DOESN'T GIVE YOU A WHOLE SCOPE OF WHAT'S AHEAD OF YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD THROUGH YOUR INTERVIEW PROCESS, HOW GOOD THEY WERE AND HOW YOU WANT TO ATTACK DIFFERENT PROBLEMS OR I SHOULDN'T SAY PROBLEMS, OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE.

YES, SIR AND IT'S I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING THE GOLF COURSE IMPROVE AND ALSO THE ABILITY TO SAY WE GOT THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE RIGHT JOB.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN, THE WGA UPDATE.

[7. WGA UPDATE]

OUR LAST DAY OF FORMAL LEAGUE PLAY WAS MAY 21ST.

RIGHT NOW, DURING THE SUMMER, WE JUST RESERVE A COUPLE OF TEE TIMES ON TUESDAY FOR OPEN PLAY SO THE LADIES CAN STILL GET TOGETHER AND MEET AND JUST HAVE AN INFORMAL DAY OF PLAYING GOLF AND WE'LL START OUR NEW SEASON IN SEPTEMBER, I BELIEVE THE WEEK AFTER LABOR DAY.

OKAY. ITEM EIGHT MGA UPDATE.

[8. MGA UPDATE]

FIRST UPDATE IS ON MASTERS WEEKEND.

WE HAD OUR TRADITIONAL MASTERS TOURNAMENT AT THE GOLF COURSE.

THE MEDALIST WAS ROGER OLIVER.

HE SHOT PAR AND ONCE AGAIN TOOK HOME THE TROPHY.

SECOND UPDATE DEALS WITH THE MGA TRYING TO ATTRACT NEW MEMBERS.

WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE ESTABLISHED A PROGRAM FOR THIS YEAR THAT WORKS.

WE'LL CONTINUE IT THAT FROM NOW UNTIL SEPTEMBER 31ST, YOU CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF THE MEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION FOR $30.

THAT INCLUDES YOUR HANDICAP.

THAT INCLUDES ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TWO MIXERS.

I'M SORRY, THE MIXER THAT WE HAVE ONCE A WEEK, THE TWO BLITZES THAT WE HAVE EVERY WEEK.

IT ENTITLES YOU TO THE DISCOUNT IN THE PRO SHOP, AS WELL AS THE RESTAURANT AND ALL THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF ANY OTHER MEMBER.

SO IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO JOIN, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE THEM.

THE FORMS TO JOIN THE MGA ARE VERY SIMPLE.

THEY CAN BE PICKED UP IN THE PRO SHOP.

SIGN YOUR NAME, FILL IN THE INFORMATION AND PAY THE 30 BUCKS AND YOU'RE A MEMBER.

SO THAT'S IT FOR THE MGA.

JUST ONE THING, JEFFREY, IS A BACKGROUND TO THAT.

AT THE LAST MEETING TWO MONTHS AGO, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP WAS MEMBERSHIP.

AND I POINTED OUT THAT WE HAVE 92 MEMBERS AND WE GENERATE SOMEWHERE AROUND HALF $1 MILLION A YEAR IN REVENUE.

THROUGH CART RENTALS.

AVERAGE PLAY.

MIXERS. TO THE GOLF COURSE AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT MEMBERSHIP.

[00:20:02]

IT'S AGING AND THERE AREN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY YOUNGER TO TAKE OVER SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO GROW THAT MEMBERSHIP AS FAST AS WE CAN.

ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, MOVE ON TO ITEM NINE.

[9. STAFF COMMENTS]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

SO A COUPLE THINGS I WANTED TO GO OVER WITH, AND CAN YOU.

IS THIS. YEAH. CAN YOU SCROLL UP JUST A LITTLE BIT ON HERE AND I CAN PROVIDE THIS AND SEND THIS TO YOU.

TO YOU VIA EMAIL IS RIGHT NOW WE ARE RIGHT HERE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

JUNE 3RD TO THE SEVENTH.

CITY MANAGER AND COMPTROLLER ARE CURRENTLY MEETING WITH OUR COMMISSIONERS AND I KNOW JEREMIAH HAS BEEN MEETING WITH THEM THIS WEEK.

I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF HIS WEEK HAS BEEN SPENT TIME WITH THEM.

SO THEY ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH IT.

PRIOR TO THAT, THERE'S A BUDGET THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY EACH DIVISION.

SO THAT'S LEVEL ONE.

AFTER IT GETS OUT OF LEVEL ONE, WE KICK IT TO LEVEL TWO AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE, WHERE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE COMPTROLLER REVIEW IT WITH THE CURRENT COMMISSION, SEE WHERE THE NUMBERS KIND OF ARE.

SO I WANTED TO JUST LET YOU KNOW AND THEN ALSO, AS YOU CAN SEE DOWN THROUGH THERE AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, SO WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THERE, I HAVE SUBMITTED THE BUDGET FOR GOLF AND IT'S BEING REVIEWED RIGHT NOW.

I CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THAT TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE DETAIL.

I THINK ONE THING THAT WAS IMPORTANT DOING IT WAS AS I WENT THROUGH IT IS LOOKING AT THE EXPENSE SIDE AND, AND WHAT DOES IT REALLY TAKE TO RUN THE GOLF COURSE? IT OBVIOUSLY TAKES A LOT OF MONEY.

SO AS COMMISSIONER ROSS WAS STATING, IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO WE WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL FUND SUBSIDIZING IT? SO WE'LL SEE WHERE WE'RE AT WHEN WE GET TO, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH THE GOLF COURSE MEMBER CAMARA BROUGHT UP TOPTRACER.

IT'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR A WHILE.

THREE, FOUR YEARS.

IT EITHER HAS TO BE PROGRAMED AS A RECREATIONAL TYPE EVENT, MAYBE IN THE EVENING TO HELP OFFSET THOSE COSTS, AND I BELIEVE WHAT MR. CAMARA WAS GETTING AT IS, IS A DRIVING RANGE CAN HELP SUBSIDIZE A GOLF COURSE OVER $100,000.

NOW, GRANTED, WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT MONEY INTO OUR DRIVING RANGE BEFORE WE COULD START MAKING REVENUE OFF THAT.

BUT IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR A DRIVING RANGE TO MAKE OVER $100,000 TO HELP OFFSET THE MAINTENANCE OF THE GOLF COURSE.

WE ALL KNOW THE GOLF COURSE IS IMPROVING.

WE ALL KNOW THAT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THERE WAS COMPLAINTS.

THERE WAS NO GRASS ON NUMBER ONE SOUTH ALL THE ALMOST ALL THE FAIRWAYS ARE HAVE GRASS.

MOST OF THE GREENS ARE GOOD AROUND THE GREENS.

THEY'RE COMING IN PRETTY WELL AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THE THING, IS TEE BOXES, FAIRWAYS AND GREENS AND THEN WE MOVE ON FROM THERE.

IT COSTS MORE TO GET A GOLF COURSE UP TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE THAN IT DOES TO MAINTAIN IT AT THAT, AT THAT LEVEL AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE THE IN THE LAST DECADE WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND I KNOW I'VE SAID THIS TO YOU BEFORE, BUT, THEY HAVE FOUND OVER 300 NOW, OVER 300 IRRIGATION HEADS AT THE GOLF COURSE THAT WERE REALLY ABANDONED OR BASICALLY TAKEN APART TO THEN PUT BACK INTO IRRIGATION HEADS AROUND THE OTHER GOLF, OTHER PARTS OF THE GOLF COURSE.

BUT WHAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO WITH THIS IS CAN WE BE SELF SELF-SUFFICIENT? OBVIOUSLY IT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND.

WE HAVE TO DO ONE OF TWO THINGS.

WE HAVE TO GET MORE PEOPLE ON THE GOLF COURSE.

I DO THINK JEFFREY CAN DO THAT, BUT TO GET MORE PEOPLE ON THE GOLF COURSE, IT HAS TO BE A PRODUCT THAT HE CAN SELL.

I DO THINK WE'RE REALLY CLOSE AND WE ALREADY CAN SELL WHAT WE HAVE, BUT WE CAN GET BETTER.

[00:25:03]

OR FINALLY IS HOW MUCH WILL THE GENERAL FUND SUBSIDIZE THE GOLF COURSE? THOSE ARE THE AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT IT.

AND WHAT WE DID IS WITH OUR REVENUE, WE WENT BACK HISTORICALLY AND WE YOU KNOW, WE WENT BACK TO WHERE WE PUT A NUMBER IN THERE, A REVENUE.

NUMBER IN THERE THAT WE BELIEVE WE CAN HIT.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO HAVE A REALISTIC BUDGET AND THEN WE BUILT OR WE BUILT OUR EXPENSES AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

I CAN'T THINK OF THE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT THE EXPENSES RIGHT NOW WITH THE BUDGET THAT WAS SUBMITTED IS HIGHER THAN THE REVENUES. CAN YOU TELL HOW MUCH RIGHT NOW I CAN'T THINK OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

BUT I DO HAVE THAT REPORT IN MY OFFICE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WE CAN GO THROUGH THERE AND WE CAN PROBABLY CUT SOME AREAS, BUT ONCE WE START CUTTING AREAS, IS WHERE WE REALLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE GOLF COURSE.

YOU KNOW, THE LARGE EXPENSES, THE LARGE EXPENSES ARE, YOU KNOW, PAYROLL EQUIPMENT.

FERTILIZER, PESTICIDES.

THOSE ARE THE LARGE ONES AND THOSE ARE THE ONES YOU DON'T WANT TO CUT.

WE NEED FERTILIZER.

WE NEED PESTICIDES ON THE GOLF COURSE AND ONE THING AND WE TALK ABOUT SUBSIDIZING THE GOLF COURSE IS THE EQUIPMENT.

THE EQUIPMENT IS OLD.

IT'S BREAKING DOWN.

SO I THINK WHEN COMMISSIONER ROSS TALKS ABOUT HOW MUCH IS.

WE HOPE THAT WE CAN GET AN INVESTMENT INTO THE GOLF COURSE.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT IS REALLY BREAKING DOWN AND I THINK, AS JEFFREY STATED, THE FIRST WEEK AND A HALF THAT HE'S BEEN HERE IS THAT WAS HIS INITIAL LIKE, OH MY GOSH, LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE DO THIS? BUT WE'LL GET THERE AND WE'LL HELP THEM ALONG.

YOU KNOW, AND THEN WAYS TO MAKE WAYS TO MAKE MONEY IS GETTING MORE PEOPLE ON THE COURSE.

MORE TOURNAMENTS.

MEMBER TOURNAMENTS.

MEMBER GUEST TOURNAMENTS.

WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET ONTO ONTO THE GOLF COURSE.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE PROMOTING THE GOLF COURSE AS WELL AND THEN ALSO, HE'S NOT GOING TO HAVE TIME TO TEACH.

SO MAYBE WE HAVE A COUPLE CONTACTS WHERE WE CAN POSSIBLY GET AN ACADEMY IN THERE OR A PRO TO GET IN THERE TO, YOU KNOW, AT PARKS AND RECREATION, WHAT WE DO IS WE DO LIKE AN 8020 SPLIT.

SO THAT'S THAT'S A REVENUE IDEA WHERE OF TEACHING LESSONS YOU PAY BACK TO THE GOLF COURSE AND THEN THE LAST THING I HAD ON MY NOTES WAS TOPTRACER. SO WE EITHER NEED TO WORK WITH JEFFREY ON PROGRAMING THAT OR HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

REGARDING KIND OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE BUDGET, I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME QUESTIONS SO I CAN ANSWER THE BEST I CAN.

YES, SIR. WHAT? HOW MANY OR HOW MUCH MAJOR EQUIPMENT DO WE NEED? I MEAN, 2 OR 3 MOWERS.

YEAH. SO IN NEXT YEAR'S.

YOU HAVE AN IDEA? WHAT? YEAH. SO IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, I CAN'T THINK OF THE NUMBER OFF.

I THINK THERE WAS LIKE THERE WAS ABOUT FOUR, I KNOW, TWO, GREENS MOWERS.

GREENS, MOWERS.

THERE WAS A BUNKER RAKE AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE TOTAL OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT TOTAL NUMBER OF I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT IS WE'RE REALLY IN NEED OF TWO FAIRWAY MOWERS AND TWO EACH.

FAIRWAY MOWERS $100,000.

IS THAT PUT IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR? THAT IS WAS NOT IN THE BUDGET THAT I SUBMITTED, BUT I DO THINK PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT.

WE'RE DOWN TO ONE FAIRWAY MOWER.

AND CAN IT BE REPAIRED? THE ONE WITH THE.

YES. WE'RE TRYING TO REPAIR IT WITH PARTS AND STUFF.

YES. GET THE MOWER ITSELF OR THE ENGINE OF THE TRACTOR.

WE HAVE ONE FAIRWAY MOWER THAT WE'RE ABLE TO USE AND I DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF IT RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU NEED TWO NEW ONES ON TOP OF THE ONE YOU HAVE OR JUST ONE? WE WOULD GET RID OF THE ONE THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY USE THAT ONE.

[00:30:03]

RIGHT? YES.

BUT WHEN WE WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF WE HAD TO CUT BACK, I MEAN, WE ONLY GOT SO MUCH MONEY TO BUY EQUIPMENT.

YEAH, YOU CAN USE ONE.

WE IF WE HAD TO, WE ONLY NEED ONE NOT.

YOU'D LIKE TO GET TWO, BUT WE REALLY ONLY NEED ONE.

YES AND THERE IS AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME TO GET THESE.

I MEAN, IF YOU DO AN INTENT, IF YOU DO AN INTENT TO PURCHASE ON SOMETHING YOU'RE LOOKING AT, POSSIBLY A YEAR.

BUT YES, IF WE COULD GET ONE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

WE COULD USE THAT ONE.

YES. I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT IT TO GET, YOU KNOW WE NEED AT LEAST ONE.

SO IF WE BUDGET FOR ONE.

YEAH AND HOPEFULLY WE GET TWO IF THEY GOT THE MONEY.

BUT IF THEY DON'T.

YEAH, AND I WOULD.

JEREMIAH'S HERE AND OBVIOUSLY, BESIDES HANDLING WHAT HE'S HANDLING NOW IS HE HAS A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE WITH THE FLEET AND STUFF.

SO I THINK HE HAS A FEW THINGS HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.[INAUDIBLE] YEAH.

THANK YOU. JEREMIAH.

CITY OF FERNANDINA INTERIM CITY MANAGER AT THE MOMENT AND HOPEFULLY IT'S JUST THAT.

WANT TO TALK TO YOU. WE HAD THE BUDGET MEETINGS HERE THIS WEEK, AS SCOTT MENTIONED, WITH EACH ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO TALK ABOUT THE DRAFT BUDGET THAT EACH DEPARTMENT SUBMITTED, I CAN SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT ALL THE ENTIRE COMMISSION SUPPORTS FUNDING THE GOLF COURSE, SUBSIDIZING THE GOLF COURSE AS MUCH AS WE NEED TO TO KEEP THE GOLF COURSE OPERATING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SCOTT JUST MENTIONED IS THE FAIRWAY MOWERS WE'RE ACTUALLY MEETING FIRST NEXT WEEK WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.

NOW THAT THE OUR NEW DIRECTOR IS HERE, TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT BUDGET, MAKE SOME TWEAKS AND ADJUSTMENTS.

ALSO TOUCH ON THE INVENTORY, THE EQUIPMENT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW BUDGET REFLECTS WHAT WE NEED.

NOT NOW, BUT ALSO GOING FORWARD.

AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, NOT TUESDAY NIGHT, THE FOLLOWING THE 2ND JULY SECOND, I'M TAKING A TENT TO PURCHASE FOR THOSE TWO MOWERS THAT WAS JUST REFERENCED. THE INTENT IS TO GO AHEAD AND GET SOMETHING PLACED NOW SO WE DON'T WAIT TILL OCTOBER, THEN WAIT A YEAR, ORDER IT NOW AND COMMIT.

HAVE THE COMMISSION COMMIT TO FUNDING THOSE BY SAYING ORDER NOW, PAY NEXT YEAR AND SO WE CAN GET THAT ORDER PLACED HOPEFULLY BY THE DAY AFTER THE COMMISSION MEETING AND GET THOSE ITEMS, THOSE ASSETS ON ORDER, INTENT TO PURCHASE SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT, GO AHEAD AND PUT US IN LINE AND THEN WE'LL ISSUE THE PURCHASE ORDER COME OCTOBER.

SO THAT'S THE INTENT TO DO THAT TO BECAUSE RIGHT NOW FERTILIZER AND EQUIPMENT SEEMS LIKE IT'S THE LARGEST NEED THAT THE GOLF COURSE NEEDS TO CONTINUE OPERATING.

SO OUR INTENT IS TO PROVIDE THEM THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

I LOOKED AT THE SUPPLIES BUDGET.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GONE THROUGH ABOUT 80% OF IT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

MOST LIKELY THAT WILL HAVE TO BE SUPPLEMENTED AS WELL.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S LEFTOVER FUNDS I KNOW WITHIN CAPITAL, THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT WE DIDN'T BUY EVERYTHING THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT HAD TO MOVE SOME MONEY OVER FOR THE IRRIGATION PUMP. IT WAS A LITTLE OVER WHAT WAS BUDGETED.

SO THERE IS MONEY TO PULL FROM THE OFFSET OPERATING SUPPLIES.

WE KNOW THAT TOP TRACER BUDGET.

THERE'S SOME FUNDS THERE THAT COULD BE MOVED AROUND INTERNALLY.

WE'VE ALREADY DONE SOME GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING TO MOVE SOME MONEY AROUND TO COVER EXPENSES.

WE ALL OPERATIONALLY HAVE TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, YOU PULL FROM ONE POT, PUTTING ANOTHER.

SO I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN DO WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP THE GOLF COURSE OPERATING AND THE OPERATING SUPPLIES BUDGET FUNDED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JEREMIAH.

YES, SIR. YEAH.

THANK YOU JEREMIAH AND I THINK ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS WAS, IS THAT, YES, WE HAD $42,000 THAT WAS LEFT OVER FROM SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS ALREADY PURCHASED THIS YEAR.

SO WE MADE THE DECISION.

I RECOMMENDED THAT MONEY GET TRANSFERRED OVER INTO OUR OPERATING SUPPLIES TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THOSE EXPENSES OF CHEMICALS AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR OPERATING SUPPLIES, AND I BROKE THIS OUT INTO OUR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND OUR OPERATING SUPPLIES IS ONE THING THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOU IS SOME OF THE EXPENSES THAT COME OUT OF THERE ARE CREDIT CARD FEES.

SO EVERY TIME THAT A CREDIT CARD IS USED, THAT'S COMING OUT OF THERE.

SO ONE THING I DID WITH THE BUDGET FOR THE MAINTENANCE SIDE OF IT IS ESPECIALLY MAINLY THE CHEMICALS THAT WAS MOVED TO JUST A SEPARATE ACCOUNT. SO YOU DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THAT NUMBER, YOU DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THAT.

BUT THAT NUMBER DWINDLES NOT FROM JUST PURCHASING CHEMICALS.

IT LITERALLY WE HAVE TO PAY SERVICE FEES ON CREDIT CARDS AS WELL.

BUT WE DID TRANSFER I THINK $36,000.

THE COMMISSION HAD APPROVED THAT AT ONE OF THE LAST BUDGETS.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THROUGH MAY THE GOLF COURSE IS, I BELIEVE, AT $8,000

[00:35:11]

SCOTT I HAVE A QUESTION AND MY QUESTION COMES FROM THE FACT THAT I'M CONFUSED ABOUT A CERTAIN SUBJECT.

YES. SO IT ISN'T A QUESTION OF ANYTHING ELSE.

YEAH. THERE'S A POPULAR BELIEF THAT WHEN THE OLD GOLF CARTS WERE GOTTEN RID OF IN THE NEW GOLF CARTS WERE BROUGHT IN, THAT THE PERSON WHO BOUGHT THE OLD GOLF CARTS AGREED TO PAY THE MAINTENANCE FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF THE NEW GOLF CARTS.

IS THAT TRUE? I DON'T, I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT.

BUT WHEN THE GOLF COURSE, WHEN THE GOLF CARTS WERE SOLD THE MONEY THAT WAS RECEIVED FROM THE GOLF CARTS WHEN THEY WERE SOLD, THAT WAS PAYING FOR THIS YEAR'S LEASE AMOUNT.

OKAY. SO IT'S NET NET IS THE THEN GOING FORWARD FOR THE LEASE OF THE GOLF CARTS.

PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST WERE LOOKING AT.

NOT EXACTLY, BUT I BELIEVE AROUND THE 150 TO $160,000 A YEAR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON THE LEASE OF THE GOLF CARTS. IS THAT A NEW LINE IN THE BUDGET? THAT IS A NEW LINE IN THE BUDGET.

WHEN THE GOLF CARTS THAT WE ORIGINALLY HAD WERE SOLD, THE GAS POWERED ONES THAT COVERED THE PRICE OF THAT LEASE, THIS FISCAL YEAR.

OKAY. THE REASON I ASK THAT QUESTION IS I'M TRYING TO CONNECT COMMISSIONER ROSS'S QUESTION WITH MY CONFUSION AROUND HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE NEED TO SUPPLEMENT INTO THE GOLF COURSE AND IF WE ONLY TOOK 200 AND WE HAVE A NEW LINE FOR 150 ALREADY, MAYBE 200 ISN'T ENOUGH.

I JUST THOUGHT, WELL, YEAH, I DON'T THINK AND I'M NOT PREPARED, NOR IS JEFFREY PREPARED AT THIS POINT TO GIVE YOU A NUMBER THAT WE FEEL AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT IT COULD BE SUPPORTED.

I THINK AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, MAYBE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE WILL BE ABLE TO REPORT TO YOU WHAT WE THINK IN THE BUDGET THAT JEREMIAH PRESENTS TO THE COMMISSION.

WHAT WE REALLY THINK THAT WE COULD SUPPORT, THE GENERAL FUND COULD SUPPORT IT.

OKAY. BUT YOUR THINKING IS, YEAH, THAT IS AN ADDITIONAL 150,000, $160,000.

THAT WAS AN EXPENSE THAT WAS NOT IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

IT'S GOT.

MY GENERAL IMPRESSION IS THAT THE NEEDS ARE SO MANY, AND I THINK ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE AFRAID TO GO AND PUT FORTH WHAT'S REALLY NEEDED.

THEY, KNOW IT'S NEEDED, BUT THEY GO, THAT'S TOO MUCH.

THEY'LL TURN THAT DOWN.

YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS I MEAN, THAT SEEMS TO BE MY IMPRESSION.

SO HERE'S WHAT REALLY ASKED FOR WHAT WAS REALLY NEEDED.

THEY GO, HOLY COW, A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT MAY NOT BE THAT AMOUNT, BUT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE THAN THE NUMBERS WE'VE THROWN AROUND TO THIS POINT.

YEAH. SO OPERATIONALLY, I AM PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WHAT I SUBMITTED FOR THE GOLF COURSE NOT TOTALLY WITH THE EQUIPMENT SIDE OF IT, WITH THE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE IT'S NOT MY EXPERTISE, BUT OPERATIONALLY FOR THE GOLF COURSE, MEANING THE FERTILIZERS AND STUFF I PUT IN THERE WHAT I BELIEVE WE NEEDED TO HAVE FOR THE GOLF COURSE.

GOOD. JUST TO BE AND EVERYONE KNOWS THIS IS WE COULD SPEND WE COULD PROBABLY SPEND $1 MILLION ON BRAND NEW EQUIPMENT.

SO IF YOU WANT.

SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO RECOMMEND, I MEAN I'M JUST BEING HONEST AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IS I MEAN YOU TAKE TWO FAIRWAY MOWERS AND THAT'S $200,000 RIGHT THERE.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO IT'S OUR JOB TO WORK FORWARD WITH THIS AND GET WHAT WE CAN GET.

SO I UNDERSTOOD THERE'S 4 OR 5 PIECES.

THERE'S CURRENTLY 4 OR 5 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET THAT OUR SUPERINTENDENT NEEDS THAT WAS SUBMITTED.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FAIRWAY MOWERS.

OKAY. HEY. THANK YOU.

WOW. SO WE HAVE CHALLENGES, WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH IT AND ON THE REVENUE SIDE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS

[00:40:02]

WE BELIEVE JEFFREY BELIEVES FROM HIS FIRST WEEK BEING HERE WHERE YOU MAKE MONEY IS GETTING PEOPLE ON THE GOLF COURSE, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT TO HELP OFFSET OUR COSTS.

SCOTT, WHAT ARE THE CREDIT CARD FEES LIKE A 5%? FIVE? YEAH.

DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, PAM I'M SORRY, I THINK 3%.

SO THIS NEXT BUDGET YEAR, JUST FOR REFERENCE, IS I BUDGETED $60,000 IN CREDIT CARD FEES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT IS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE, LET'S SAY YOU'RE A RETURNING MEMBER, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF MEMBERS COULD SEND, YOU KNOW, WRITE US A CHECK. WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT FEE.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST VERY SMALL WAYS OF LOOKING AT IT.

BUT A LOT OF THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS TODAY IS CREDIT CARDS.

SO. WELL, GAS STATIONS HAVE A CASH PRICE AND CREDIT CARD PRICE.

WELL, WE AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

YES. A LOT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE STARTED THAT LIKE THE MOTOR VEHICLES.

EVERYBODY IS CHARGING FOR A CREDIT CARD TODAY.

SO THERE'S AN ARTICLE IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL JUST A MONTH AGO WHERE YOU USE YOUR CREDIT CARD ON A PURCHASE OR EVEN YOU'RE DOING A HOME IMPROVEMENT.

THEY'LL GIVE YOU A CASH PRICE AND THEY'LL GIVE YOU A CREDIT CARD PRICE, AND THE CONSUMER'S PAYING FOR THAT.

YEAH. SO WE DO THAT AT PARKS AND RECREATION.

EXACTLY AND ALSO OUR UTILITY I KNOW OUR UTILITY BILLING DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S A CHARGE.

IT IS JUST AN ADDED EXPENSE THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKES AWAY FROM THE BOTTOM LINE AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR RATES THE SAME, THEN WE HAVE TO BALANCE IT ALL THE WAY THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING 3% OF THAT AWAY FROM THE BUDGET, BECAUSE WHEN YOU ADD IT ALL UP, $60,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY AND IT CAN BUY A LOT OF THINGS FOR $60,000, ESPECIALLY IN FERTILIZATION AND THAT OR WE COULD BUY A GREENS MOWER.

SO I HAVE ONE QUESTION BEFORE I AND I'LL GIVE IT RIGHT BACK TO YOU.

DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY RIGHT NOW WE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH OCTOBER 1ST WITH THE EQUIPMENT? I'M NOT I WOULD I'M NOT SURE OF THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO PIECEMEAL THE EQUIPMENT TOGETHER.

EXACTLY. WE'RE TAKING, WE'RE TAKING? YES, WE'RE TAKING BLADES FROM ONE AND MOVING THEM TO THE NEXT AND IT'S TAKING UP TIME FROM AWAY FROM THE GOLF COURSE TO GET IT UP TO SPEED AND CUTTING TIME IS NOW PROBABLY ONE AND A HALF TIMES MORE THAN IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT WE LOOK AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT THIS IS AN EMERGENCY AND THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO THE LEAST DOWNTIME THAT WE HAVE IN DOING THIS DOESN'T RUIN WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE COME A LONG WAY IN A VERY SHORT TIME, AND WE NEED TO KEEP IT UP, AND WE NEED THE EQUIPMENT TO DO IT. YEAH AND THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE INTENT TO PURCHASE IS WE WILL IMMEDIATELY GET IN LINE KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THROUGH STATE CONTRACTS.

WE'LL SAY, ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE AGREED TO PURCHASE THIS.

WE'RE IN LINE. SO NOW WE'RE NOT WAITING TILL OCTOBER 1ST TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO BUY THIS AND WAITING ANOTHER YEAR.

YEAH. MEMBER KELLY SCOTT THE I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CREDIT CARD, $60,000.

THAT'S FOR OUTBOUND PURCHASES FOR THE GOLF COURSE, BECAUSE ON THE INBOUND SIDE, WHEN I BUY SOMETHING, WHEN I PAY MY ANNUAL DUES, OR WHEN I BUY SOMETHING IN THE PRO SHOP, I PAY THAT 3%.

WELL, THEY GET THE MONEY MINUS THAT 3%.

THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY IS GETTING THE REST OF IT.

SO IF YOU SPEND, LET'S SAY, YOUR BILLS, $1,000, WE DON'T CHARGE YOU THAT 3%.

WE PAY IT.

SO THEY ONLY NET 970 OUT OF THAT THOUSAND.

I USE CREDIT CARD FOR EVERYTHING IN THE PRO SHOP AND SO DOES YOUR BILL.

DOES YOUR BILL HAVE A SURCHARGE ON IT FOR THE CREDIT CARD USAGE? YES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT OKAY.

NO. YEAH. NO NO NO.

YOU GET POINTS WHEN YOU USE IT.

YOU DON'T PAY IT. YOU GET POINTS, YOU STILL PAY IT.

WE'RE THE GOLF COURSE IS CURRENTLY PAYING THE FEE.

OKAY. I'LL CHECK PLEASE.

[00:45:02]

THEY'LL AGAIN THEY'LL GOT ONE PRICE FOR CASH AND ONE PRICE FOR CREDIT CARD AND THEY'LL CHARGE YOU A FRIEND IN A.

WHAT IS IT? UTILITIES.

YOU TAKE THE CREDIT CARD.

WHAT DO YOU PAY? TWO AND A HALF EXTRA PERCENT.

YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

THREE. YEAH.

3%. YES.

ANYWAY, YOU PAY EXTRA IF YOU PAY BY CHECK OR CASH IS ONE.

YOU PAY BY CREDIT CARD AND THEY CHARGE YOU I THINK TWO AND A HALF.

SO AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS BUDGET WE WILL GET BETTER NUMBERS.

AND THEN I THINK WHAT WE COULD DO IS SAY, HEY, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU AND DO YOU SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL ASK FOR A RECOMMENDATION OR A RECOMMENDATION OF SUPPORT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT MAY OR THAT THE GENERAL FUND MAY HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE.

OKAY. BEFORE YOU LEAVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO QUICKLY ADDRESS OR POSSIBLE CHANGING OF THE MEETING TIME? OH, YES. THANK YOU.

OKAY, SO A FEW MONTHS BACK, I HAD GONE THROUGH THE CHAMBER.

WHERE IT WAS RESERVED AND SUCH, AND THERE WERE A FEW EVENTS THAT WERE WERE NOT IN THE CALENDAR AT THAT TIME.

SO I BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE OR WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE.

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO LOOK AT THE COMMISSION CHAMBER'S RESERVATIONS AND I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT TIMES, POSSIBLY DAYS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MEET.

THERE WAS SOME PENSION BOARD MEETINGS THAT I DON'T BELIEVE WERE IN THERE AT THE TIME.

SO IT'S CUTTING IT TOO TIGHT? I THINK IT'S FOUR TIMES A YEAR.

SO AND WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO CHANGE TIMES AROUND BECAUSE THE MEETINGS ARE RECORDED AND STUFF.

SO I'M GOING TO BRING OUT OUR NEXT MEETING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

WOULD THEY BE MORNING, AFTERNOON OR.

I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE IT MORE AT THE 4:00 TIME FRAME AND I'LL LOOK AT THOSE DATES BECAUSE I THINK IT DOES AFFECT I DON'T WANT TO AFFECT.

WE HAD A VERY HARD TIME FINDING SOMEONE FOR THE MGA, SO WE MOVED IT BACK.

SO THAT'S I BELIEVE THE PREFERENCE OF THE BOARD IS TO KEEP IT AT THE SAME TIME.

OH YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. I JUST WONDERED OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

SO THANK YOU.

I THINK THE GOLF COURSE IS IMPROVING.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

I'M HERE TO HELP JEFFREY TOO.

SO THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU SCOTT.

KNOW THAT WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.

[10. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]

TRY TO WRAP IT UP.

I THINK YOU'D LIKE TO SAY I'M NONE.

NONE. I'M DONE.

YOU'RE DONE. OH COME ON.

IS IT MY TURN? YES, I HAVE TWO.

OKAY. JEFFREY? YES, PLEASE. YES.

THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY A MEMBER OF THE GOLF CLUB AND SO I WENT AND LOOKED AT IT JUST TO MAKE SURE BEFORE I BROUGHT IT UP AND IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE SIGNS THAT INDICATE THAT WE HAVE A GOLF COURSE, THAT GOLF COURSE HAS TOPTRACER AND MEMBERSHIPS, THERE'S SIGNS ALL AROUND THE PLACE ARE EXTREMELY WELL DONE.

I KNOW THEY'RE VERY WELL CARED FOR.

THEY NEVER MENTION THE RESTAURANT.

YEAH, I THINK FROM WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, IT'S JUST BEEN BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RUN BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE OF THAT.

BUT I CAN LOOK INTO THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S BASICALLY JUST SMALL FOOD THAT WE'VE HAD DOWN THERE.

CHIPS, DRINKS, BEERS.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT'S BEEN AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WITH TOPTRACER, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I HAVE TALKED TO THE REGIONAL REP THIS WEEK JUST TO GET AN INSIGHT AND WHAT WE HAVE CHANGED THAT TO ACTUALLY IS A LITTLE BETTER FORMAT AS FAR AS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MAKE THE MONEY OFF THE BASE BY SPLITTING THAT COST WITH THE COST OF THE RANGE BALLS I WAS DOWN, I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE A COUPLE TIMES AND THERE'S A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE HITTING, AND THE STAFFS DOWN SAYS THEY'RE OUT THERE HITTING.

I THINK THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS YOU'RE MAKING WHAT YOU MAKE OFF THE RANGE BALLS, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT THE DRIVING RANGE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD MAKE X.

WITH TOPTRACER WE'RE SPLITTING THAT.

THAT'S STILL THERE. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THE COST OF THE STAFF THE FEES FROM WHAT I'M LEARNING, SLOWLY IT'S JUST A LOT. SO THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT TO DECIDE.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.

YOU CAN STILL USE IT AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'VE TALKED TO ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SPONSORS.

I'VE REACHED OUT TO A COUPLE JUST TO SEE IF THEY WERE INTERESTED.

HE WANTS A SIGN OUTSIDE ON THE OTHER SIDE WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT FROM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE PARKING LOT.

SO, YOU KNOW BUT HE, YOU KNOW, HE KIND OF WANTS WHAT HE WANTS AND, I KNOW, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A FEW DAYS AND IT'S A LOT, BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M AT ON THE DRIVING RANGE.

[00:50:02]

WELL, THOSE SIGNS SAY TOPTRACER MEMBERSHIP, BUT THEY DON'T SAY RESTAURANT.

I'M NOT AWARE OF WHEN THOSE SIGNS WERE PUT IN, BUT YEAH, IT SHOULD BE.

MAYBE THIS SHOULD BE MORE. YEAH.

NO PROBLEM. SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

IS ACTUALLY THE SIGNS WERE JUST RECENTLY REDONE.

FROM WHAT'S HIS LAST NAME? I'M SORRY. YEAH, I CAN ANSWER THAT.

YEAH. WELL ANYWAYS, SO HE CAN TALK, BUT I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

THERE'S ON 3 OR 4 SOUTH.

RIGHT ALONG THE PARKWAY.

THERE IS AN EXISTING SIGN OUT THERE.

YES, WE POSSIBLY COULD.

PARKS AND RECREATION HAS THESE MARQUEE SIGNS.

I THINK PEOPLE LIKE THEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE KIND OF OLD SCHOOL.

BUT WE COULD HAVE A SIGN OUT THERE AND I KNOW PAM HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS NUMEROUS TIMES.

MANY, PEOPLE GO BY THERE, SO.

RIGHT. POSSIBLY NEXT TO THAT EXISTING SIGN, WE COULD HAVE A MARQUEE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE RESTAURANTS OPEN AND BE ABLE TO HELP COMMUNICATE.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. YES.

SO, YEAH, YOU'RE CORRECT.

THE SIGNAGE ON FLETCHER, THE SIGNAGE COMING OFF OF NOT BUILT VIA DEL REY AND THEN ALSO ON THE PARKWAY SIDE, THOSE ARE THREE OPTIONS THAT.

YES, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

THANK YOU. YEAH. OKAY AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT MR. MURRAY TO EXPAND ON IT.

NO. BUT YES.

GO AHEAD.

LEE MURRAY, 2752 FIRST AVENUE, FERNANDINA.

DAVID DEMAY MADE ALL THOSE DECISIONS, OKAY AND CHRISTIE.

CHRISTIE [INAUDIBLE] YESTERDAY SHE SAID, I WANTED RESTAURANT PUT ON ONE OF THE SIGNS AND THEN I SAID, WHAT HAPPENED? SHE SAID, I GOT VETOED DOWN.

SO I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA.

YOU GOT TO MARKET GOLF.

THAT'S GOOD. YEAH.

WE GOT THAT. YEAH AND IT VERY QUICKLY.

JEFFREY DO YOU THINK DEMO DAYS BY CLUB MANUFACTURERS WILL INCREASE INTEREST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND PLAY GOLF, NOT JUST FOR EXISTING MEMBERS, BUT FOR NEW PEOPLE TO COME IN, SEE THE DEMO DAY AND SAY, HEY, LET'S GO PLAY.

SO AT THIS POINT, I HAVEN'T EVEN ASSESSED THAT.

I'M KIND OF IN A POINT WHERE I NEED TO GET MY HEAD WRAPPED AROUND THE OPERATIONS.

OKAY I'M A GOLF PROFESSIONAL.

I'VE NOT DONE ALL AREAS AT ONE TIME, SO I'VE GOT A LOT OF LEARNING TO DO THERE.

I KNOW MY PREDECESSOR DID SOME TEACHING, TRIED TO START, YOU KNOW, CLINICS, MORE OF THAT SUCH.

I'VE DONE THAT. I TAUGHT A LOT AT MY LAST POSITION, BUT I THINK I NEED TO GET MY HEAD WRAPPED AROUND THAT BEFORE I START GETTING INTO THOSE AREAS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE SITUATION WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS I'VE COME IN LOOKING AT WE WANT TO KEEP THE GOLF COURSE CONDITIONS GOING FORWARD.

THAT'S WHAT I LOOK AT AND WE NEED REVENUES.

WE NEED PEOPLE PLAYING.

THIS IS THE SLOW TIME OF YEAR.

WE GOT TO GET READY FOR THE BUSY SEASON, AND WE GOT TO KEEP THE CHEMICALS AND WHAT WE NEED FOR THE GOLF COURSE GOING FORWARD.

SO THE GOLF COURSE DOESN'T GO BACKWARDS AGAIN.

THAT'S WHAT I LOOK AT.

SO THANK YOU, JEFF.

I'LL JUST MENTION THE TOP TRACER AGAIN.

AGAIN, THEY CHANGED THE REVENUE SHARING MODE TO THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE IN, WHERE THE FALLS ARE SHARED BETWEEN TOP TRACER IN THE RANGE AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING SOMEWHAT AS FAR AS TOP TRACER RESULTS ARE LOOKING A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

THEY'RE LOOKING A BIT BETTER BY SHARING THE REVENUE FROM THE BALLS.

SO PERHAPS WE HAVEN'T LET THAT RUN ITS COURSE YET AS FAR AS SEEING HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT IS.

MONTHS AGO I WENT OVER OLD BUDGETS AND WAS ABLE TO SEE.

IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE THE DRIVING RANGE HAS MADE A TON OF MONEY.

I THINK THE MOST I EVER SAW IT MAKE WAS LIKE 70,000 BEFORE.

THAT'S GOING BACK LIKE TEN YEARS OR NINE YEARS.

SO IT HADN'T MADE.

IN THE NUMBERS I SAW, IT WAS NEVER AT THAT 100,000 IN THAT TIME PERIOD.

SO WE MAY NOT BE LOSING AS MUCH MONEY WITH THAT AS WE THOUGHT.

THE OTHER PART OF IT IS, IT SEEMS LIKE MR. BIGGERS IS INTENT ON GIVING IT A SHOT, EVEN THOUGH THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT TIME TO

[00:55:07]

BUT SINCE YOU SEEM TO HAVE SOME ENTHUSIASM TOWARD THE VENUE, I THINK IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO PRECLUDE YOU FROM DOING THAT, EVEN THOUGH BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AT STAKE IN IT AS FAR AS YOU COULD JUST WRITE IT OFF AS A BAD CHOICE, OR YOU CAN TRY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, BUT THE LONGER THEN YOU'LL KIND OF PARTIALLY OWN IT TO AFTER A YEAR.

BUT IF WE DECIDE TO GET RID OF IT, THEN.

SO WE'LL SEE AT THIS POINT.

AND WITH THAT, I INTEND TO TAKE UP YOUR OFFER TO SEE HOW THE BUDGET LOOKS, BECAUSE I THINK PART OF THE BUDGET IS JUST TO BE AS HONEST AS POSSIBLE WITH IT AS FAR AS WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE AND WHAT YOUR REVENUE IS GOING TO BE AND THEN PRESENT THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE COMMISSIONERS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

ANY COMMENTS ON MY COMMENTS? OKAY. WITH THAT WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 11.

WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOVE FOR ADJOURNMENT? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR.

AYE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.