[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:02] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING FOR JULY 25, 2024 AT THE CITY HALL COMMISSION CHAMBERS. MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. ITEM 2. MADAM, ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >> MEMBER SIKORSKI. >> HERE. >> MEMBER KELLY. >> HERE. >> CHAIR, PELICAN. >> HERE. >> MEMBER KAMERA. >> HERE. >> MEMBER CORBETT. >> HERE. >> THANK YOU. >> I SAID YOU WERE HERE, AND THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME. >> IT WAS A RAIN. >> JUST SAY HERE. >> RAIN GOT MY EYE. >> WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT YOU, AND YOU'RE HERE. ITEM 3, COULD WE ALL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? >> PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >> ITEM 4. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE PRESENT. MOVING ON TO ITEM 5 DISCUSSION ITEMS, [5.1 Budget Items] ITEM 5.1 BUDGET ITEMS. WOULD SOMEONE FROM MANAFEL LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT? YES. JEFFREY BIGGERS, GENERAL MANAGER, FACH GOLF CLUB. I'M GOING TO GIVE AN ATTEMPT TO GO THROUGH THIS. I'VE HAD ABOUT A MONTH WITH THE BUDGET. BASICALLY, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT EQUIPMENT COSTS FOR THIS YEAR. THAT'S OUR BIGGEST EXPENSE RIGHT NOW. AS YOU LOOK ACROSS 2025, WE HAVE TWO GREENS MOWERS AND TWO FAIRWAY UNITS THAT WE HAVE INTENT TO PURCHASE WITH. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING AS FAR AS EQUIPMENT AND WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE GOLF COURSE. THERE ARE OTHER FEW ITEMS AND WE'VE SPREAD IT OUT TO SHOW EACH YEAR GOING FORWARD FOR WHAT WE NEED. THAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST CONCERN SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, FOR THAT BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, AND I ASSUME WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT GOING FORWARD. GREEN FEES AND CART FEES FOR NEXT YEAR, WE BUDGETED ABOUT 710,000 FOR GREEN FEES AND 400 FOR CART FEES, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE THERE. AS OF RIGHT NOW, DEFINITELY I FEEL CONFIDENT INCREASING THAT GOING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR, WE'RE ON PACE THIS YEAR TO DO ABOUT 660,000 IN GREEN FEES AND MAYBE AROUND 350,000 IN CART FEES, AND WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THIS LAST MEETING. THAT'S AROUND $29 PER ROUND AVERAGE. THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD FROM GOLFERS PAYING FULL RATE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FULLY INCLUSIVE MEMBERS THAT DON'T PAY ANYTHING. IF WE CAN INCREASE THAT BY 3,000 ROUNDS NEXT YEAR, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 37,000 THIS YEAR. THAT WOULD BE A RIGHT IN THAT RANGE TO COME CLOSE TO HITTING THOSE NUMBERS. BUT EVEN WITH THAT SAID, HITTING THOSE NUMBERS, WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE A LARGE SHORTFALL, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW WITH THIS BUDGET GOING FORWARD, LOOKING FOR THOSE FUNDS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE UP THERE GOING FORWARD? I'LL GIVE MY BEST ANSWER. >> JUST TAKE NEXT YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 25. OBVIOUSLY, THE TWO FAIRWAY UNITS, WE HAD THAT THAT WAS AT THE COMMISSION MEETING A FEW WEEKS AGO WITH INTENT TO PURCHASE, SO THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH SHOT, CORRECT? >> ONE IS. THE OTHER ONE IS HALF AND HALF, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET A RENTAL UNIT. THAT WE'RE USING AS WE SPEAK. IT'S NOT THE SAME TYPE OF UNIT AS THESE, BUT IT CAN DO THE JOB. IT'S GOING TO KEEP THE GRASS CUT, AND WE'VE GOT THAT FOR THE NEXT 3-6 MONTHS. HOPEFULLY, NO LONGER. WHAT'S THE GROWING SEASON ENDS? >> WHAT'S THE MONTHLY COST OF IT? >> THIRTEEN HUNDRED A MONTH. >> AS FAR AS THE OTHER INTENT TO PURCHASE, WE HAVE THE GREENS MOWERS, WHICH IS THAT RIGHT, SCOTT? THAT JUST WENT THROUGH, RIGHT? [00:05:01] >> YES, SIR. >> YES. >> WHAT WENT THROUGH? >> THE INTENT TO PURCHASE ON OUR GREENS MOWERS. >> THAT'S JUST ANOTHER INTENT TO PURCHASE. BOTH ARE ABOUT 6-12 MONTHS BARRING LEAD TIME. ONCE WE GET THAT IN AND GET THOSE TO THE MANUFACTURERS, THEN WE'RE IN THEIR QUEUE TO GET THEM WHEN THEY'RE BUILT IN RETINUE, SO THERE'S THAT. >> I'M A LITTLE CURIOUS, BUT I DON'T THINK THE ECONOMY IS ACTUALLY HUMMING ALONG, ACTUALLY THAT THAT THERE'D BE THAT MUCH WAITING TIME FOR? >> IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW, I GUESS. I'VE TALKED TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT. THIS IS YOUR WAIT TIME. WHEN WE GOT THE INTENT TO PURCHASE FOR THE FAIRWAY MOWERS AND GOT IT INTO THE COMPANY AND OUR REP, HE DID SAY HE THINKS THAT'S COME DOWN JUST A LITTLE. MAYBE 6-8 MONTHS, BUT WE'RE NOT TOTALLY SURE RIGHT NOW. >> WHAT OTHER CONDITION OF THOSE GREENS MOWERS. BETTER SHAPE THAN THE FARAWAY MOTOR MOWERS, BUT ONE IS OKAY. THE OTHER ONE, SO, SO. I THINK EVERY PIECE WE HAVE ON THAT LIST, WE'RE NEEDING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> IT'S NEARING END OF LIFE TYPE, SO TO SPEAK. >> SOME ARE. YEAH. >> OKAY. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYBE TO REPLACE IT BEFORE IT BREAKS. >> I THINK AS YOU LOOK AT THOSE NEEDS, I MEAN, ALL ARE NEEDED. PLUS, SOME OF OUR COSTS FOR NEXT YEAR ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THIS YEAR, 164,000 FOR THE GOLF CARTS. THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE EXPENSES. WE ALSO HAVE A SPRAYER THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. YOU TALK ABOUT LEAD TIMES. THIS WAS MAYBE WAS IT LAST BUDGET OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN NEW? >> IT WAS ROLLED OVER INTO THIS BUDGET. THAT'S JUST FOR A SPRAYER. >> SHOULD I ADD SOMETHING JEFFREY? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> SCOTT MICHAELSON, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. A COUPLE OF THINGS IN JUST EXPLAINING THIS. JUST FOR CLARITY, MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS. THIS ITEM RIGHT HERE, THIS TOP NUMBER IS WHAT JEFFREY WAS JUST STATING ABOUT. THAT WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS ENCUMBERED, ORDERED FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE NEARING THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE STILL DO NOT HAVE IT. THEN THESE ARE THE TWO FAIRWAY UNITS THAT JEFFREY WAS EXPLAINING EARLIER ABOUT THE INTENT TO PURCHASE. THEN THESE AS WELL ARE INTENTS TO PURCHASE. AS JEFFREY STATED, BECAUSE THERE IS ACTUALLY A LARGE LEAD TIME, IS THE GOAL WAS TO GET IN LINE. COME OCTOBER, WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR ANOTHER, TILL THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 25, WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTED NOW. THEN WE'RE IN LINE. THEN WE PURCHASED IT AT THAT POINT. THEN THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS IS PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON THE GOLF CARTS, $164,000. THAT'S YEAH, PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. TECHNICALLY, WE HAD THAT FEE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO OFFSET THAT BY THE SALE OF THE EXISTING GOLF CARTS THAT WERE THE GAS POWERED ONES. THAT'S WHERE THE LARGEST SUM OF MONEY IS THAT WE SUBMITTED FOR THIS BUDGET. THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL STAFFING, I BELIEVE, NINE FULL TIME PEOPLE, THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE AT THE GOLF COURSE TIME PART TIME INDIVIDUALS. THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST, WELL, NO ADDITIONAL FULL TIME STAFF, AND ACTUALLY NO ADDITIONAL PART TIME STAFF EITHER. ONE OTHER INCREASE WAS MAINLY FOR FERTILIZER CHEMICALS, SAND, THE ITEMS THAT OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BRING THE GOLF COURSE UP. I WOULD IMAGINE NOW THERE'S A CONVERSATION BETWEEN JEFFREY AND PAM PROBABLY ON A DAILY BASIS OF HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT, HOW MUCH CAN WE PAY AND WHERE WE'RE ALREADY CUTTING CORNERS ON CHEMICALS. AS WE KNOW, WHEN A GOLF COURSES, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO GROW GRASS. OH, THERE ISN'T AN INCREASE THAT WE SUBMITTED IN THAT AS WELL. >> BEFORE THE MEETING, I MENTIONED TO YOU, I SAW THE NEWS LETTER ARTICLE AND A HIGHER FIGURE. [00:10:04] DID THAT INCLUDE POSSIBLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT YOU PROJECTED REVENUE AND THE PROJECTED EXPENSES INCLUDING THIS? >> YES, SIR. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS. THAT NUMBER THAT WAS IN THERE. THAT WAS OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, JEREMIAH GLISSON, GAVE A HIGH LEVEL VIEW OF THE BUDGET AT THE PREVIOUS COMMISSION MEETING. THAT NUMBER FOR THE GOLF COURSE IS $890,000. THIS NUMBER RIGHT HERE IS THAT NUMBER IS JUST FOR EQUIPMENT. THAT'S PART OF THAT 800. >> YES, SIR. THAT IS PART OF IT. THE OTHER REMAINING WOULD BE THE DEFICIT FROM THE REVENUE COMPARED TO THE EXPENSES. JEFF THIS IS ONE THING JEFFREY AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. IT WILL ALWAYS BE OUR GOAL. THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE REVENUE AT THE GOLF COURSE. IF WE BUDGET, 710,000 IN GREEN FEES, AND THE COURSE CONTINUES TO GET BETTER AND BETTER. I KNOW I MIGHT BE SHOOTING FOR THE STARS HERE, BUT IT COULD BE 800,000. WE AND THE STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE REVENUE SIDE OF IT. WE BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE. >> I CAN MAKE A NOTE ON THAT, TOO. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO LOOK AT NOTE. GO AHEAD. YES, SIR. >> I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE DEAD HORSE, AND I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND BROUGHT IT UP TO YOU, BUT I'VE BEEN TO THREE GOLF COURSES IN THE PAST FIVE DAYS, AND I'VE TALKED TO THEIR SUPERINTENDENTS AND THAT'S INCLUDING EMILIA RIVER, 60% OF THEIR EQUIPMENT IS RENTAL. THREE YEARS WITH A LEASE TO BUY. IT WOULD CUT OUR EXPENSES ENORMOUSLY AND SPREAD THEM OVER WITH A STANDARD SET PRICING OF EVERY YEAR THAT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO SPEND, IT WOULD BE A FIXED NUMBER, WHATEVER THAT IS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE LOOKED INTO IT? >> I HAVE NOT. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CITY WOULD APPROACH THAT VIEW. IT TOOK A BIT TO GET JUST FOR 3-6 MONTHS. BUT I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM THERE. I'VE ALSO BEEN WHERE I'VE LEASED CARTS INSTEAD OF PURCHASED THEM. FROM EQUIPMENT STANDPOINT, IT'S A GOOD POINT. >> BUT WITH THE CONTINUOUS INCREASE. NOW, THIS YEAR, IT'S ABOUT BETWEEN 12-15% FOR PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZATION FROM LAST YEAR FOR 18 HOLES. THAT WAS ABOUT. NO OTHER GOLF COURSE IN THIS CITY HAS 27 HOLES. THAT MEANS WE'RE PAYING A THIRD MORE FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO. I WOULD RATHER SEE US LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF RENTING AND GETTING MORE EMPLOYEES AND SAVING SOME OF THAT MONEY SO WE COULD GET MORE EMPLOYEES OUT THERE SHOWING A BETTER SERVICE WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THE JOB DONE. >> I UNDERSTAND. >> I GOT TO COMMEND YOU THE GOLF SHOP WHEN YOU DID THE LOWERING OF THE PRICES AND GETTING RID OF THIS STUFF, IT HAS DEFINITELY GOTTEN RID OF THE THE BAGGAGE THAT JUST SITTING THERE AND NOW IT'S MOVING OUT. >> WE'RE MOVING SOME OF THE STUFF OUT, CAN YOU WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR? >> YES. A PUBLIC COURSE AND I CHECKED BACK HOME WITH MY BUDDY THAT OWNS A PUBLIC COURSE IN MARYLAND, AND HE STATED TO ME, SAID, TOMMY, WE DON'T COUNT ON ANYTHING THAT WE SELL AT A PUBLIC GOLF COURSE. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO CONGRESSIONAL OR IF YOU'RE GOING TO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND YOU'RE PLAYING AROUND A GOLF. EMILIA RIVER IS AN EXCEPTION. IT'S A SEMI PRIVATE, AND IT SELLS A LOT OF STUFF. >> IT TURNS OVER ONCE EVERY NINE WEEKS. THEY'RE TURNING THEIR PERIL OVER. THAT IS NOT EXPECTED AT A CITY GOLF COURSE. >> WE CAN DO THAT TWO OR THREE TIMES A YEAR, AND THAT WOULD BE UNBELIEVABLE. >> A CITY GOLF COURSE, [00:15:01] AND I THINK TO THE GUYS THAT RUN IT, 55, $60 IS THE PRICE POINT THAT WE HAVE TO BE AT EVERY DAY AT THE CITY GOLF COURSE. NINETY DOLLARS, WE COULD GET IT AT A SEMI PRIVATE OR A PRIVATE GOLF COURSE EVERY DAY. >> WELL, I THINK TWO, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK PRO SHOP SALES, I SEE A LOT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN TOWN FOR THE SUMMER. I'LL BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THIS CHANGES WHEN WE GET INTO THE SEASON BEING NEW HERE, AND WE HAVE MORE OF OUR SEASONAL MEMBERS. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO LOOK AT IT, AND WHEN I LOOK AT IT FROM A REVENUE STANDPOINT, AND I'M GETTING AWAY FROM THE PRO SHOP, JUST TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, FOR THE MONTH OF JULY, WE'RE ABOUT $20,000 MORE AS A WHOLE. THAT'S CART GREEN FEES, DRIVING RANGE, PRO SHOP, FOOD AND BEVERAGE, THAN WE WERE THROUGH 22 DAYS LAST YEAR. NOW HOPEFULLY THAT TREND CONTINUES BECAUSE SCOTT AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT RATES. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE? DO WE WANT TO GO UP A LITTLE ON OUR MEMBERSHIP? I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO MESS WITH IT TOO MUCH. I WANT TO SEE WHAT WE GET THIS YEAR ON THOSE MEMBERSHIPS BECAUSE I THINK TWO YEARS AGO WE HAD A CARD THAT YOU COULD HAVE, AND I THINK THAT DILUTED SOME OF WHAT A MEMBERSHIP WOULD BE. IF YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER, THEN WHERE ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO PAY? WHAT ARE THOSE RATES? THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SET RIGHT NOW. I THINK WE'RE COMFORTABLE RIGHT NOW WITH THAT RATE, MAYBE EVEN MORE SO NOW THAT THE GOLF COURSES HAS GOTTEN IN SUCH BETTER CONDITION. I KNOW THOSE GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD IN THE SIX WEEKS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE WITH A LOT OF CHALLENGES TO GET IT WHERE IT IS. I DO UNDERSTAND AND I DO WANT TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC THAT IT WILL GO DOWN A LITTLE GOING FORWARD. THIS IS COMMON IN BERMUDA, WHEN WE GET INTO A SITUATION OF DORMANCY IN THE WINTERTIME, IT'LL GET THIN. BUT AS EACH SEASON GOES BY, AND WITH THE STAFF WE HAVE OUT THERE AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THOSE CHEMICALS AND THE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES HE HAS IN PLACE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET BETTER. >> WELL, WE CAN'T SKIP ON FERTILIZATION. WE CAN'T SKIP ON PESTICIDES. WE CAN'T SKIP ON ANY OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES THAT GOLF COURSE FUNCTIONAL. >> AGREED. >> BUT I DO THINK, AND I'LL STAND BY IT, THAT BEFORE ANYBODY SIGNS OFF ON THIS BUDGET, I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE COST FACTORS FOR THREE YEARS OF LEASING GOLF EQUIPMENT. THE REASON IS, LET'S SAY, AND I'M PLAYING THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, IT WORKS OUT TO OUR ADVANTAGE. WE CAN SHOVE MORE MONEY IN OTHER DIRECTIONS ONTO THAT GOLF COURSE. >> CAN I BRING UP ONE POINT? WE WERE GOING TO LEASE THE GOLF CARTS. >> NOT GOLF CARTS. >> BUT WE WERE GOING TO LEASE THEM, AND THE LEASE WAS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE LOAN. >> WE STILL HAD TO SELL THEM TOO. >> IN THE EQUIPMENT BUSINESS, IT IS NOT LIKE THAT. IT'S LIKE LEASING A CAR. YOU CAN GET A LEASE FOR $525 A MONTH FOR LEASING A CAR. SOME PEOPLE PAY 485 FOR A PAYMENT. >> RIGHT. >> WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS, AND WE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE BUSINESS, UNTIL WE GET A GOOD HANDLE IN IMPROVING THE GOLF COURSE AND PUTTING AS MANY NECESSARY THINGS BACK INTO IT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND CUT OUR EXPENSES, BUT STILL BEING ABLE TO DO THE JOB WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WITH THE EQUIPMENT. >> I THINK THAT'S WHY WE MOVED FORWARD, I COULD BE WRONG, WITH TRYING TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAIN IT. I THINK WE LOOK AT IT LONG TERM, AND LIKE I SAID, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE SO LONG. BUT WHEN YOU HAVEN'T PUT ANYTHING BACK INTO THE GOLF COURSE EQUIPMENT WISE TO AN EXTENT OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT. I CAN'T SAY I'VE LOOKED INTO ANY LEASING TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE, BUT WE CAN. >> BUT I'M GOING TO SAY TO YOU, WHY DOES PROBABLY EVERY GOLF COURSE ON THIS ISLAND, THE THREE THAT I KNOW ABOUT, DO 60% OF THEIR EQUIPMENT BUYING. THEY LEASE IT. THEY'RE NOT HURTING FOR MONEY, YOU KNOW? I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S A BIG, BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PRIVATE COURSE AND A CITY COURSE. >> THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS. >> THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EVEN A SEMI PRIVATE AND A CITY COURSE. WE HAVE DONE SO WELL IN SUCH A SHORT TIME, AND WE'VE COME A LONG WAY. [00:20:02] BUT I THINK IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS GOING FORWARD, THE MORE WE CAN GET THINGS DONE TO THE CITY COURSE, AND HAVE THAT MONEY IN OUR POCKET JUST IN CASE WE MAY NEED IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE, ADDITIONAL RATIONS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, RATING OR WHATEVER IT IS. WE NEED TO HAVE THAT IN OUR BACK POCKET INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE COMMISSIONERS EVERY TIME THAT WE NEED SOMETHING AND START BEGGING. THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE COULD START. WE CAN CUT OUR BUDGET AND THEN SAY, OKAY, WE DECIDED TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION. IT'S YOUR CALL. I'M ONLY THROWING IT OUT. >> YES. WE'LL DEFINITELY LOOK INTO IT. WHY NOT? >> THANKS, MEMBER CAMERA. I THINK THAT I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE WILL LOOK INTO THAT. NORMALLY, JEREMIAH, OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, HANDLES A LOT WITH THE PURCHASING OF EQUIPMENT. I THINK WE'LL SET UP A MEETING WITH HIM AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT. WHAT JEFFREY AND I COULD DO IS WE CAN RUN NUMBERS. WHAT IS THE LEASE PRICE COMPARED TO THE PURCHASE PRICE? THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF GOLF COURSE EQUIPMENT IS ON AVERAGE 4-5 YEARS. IT'S USED EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT'S IN THE ELEMENTS. NOW, WE ARE AT A POINT, UNFORTUNATELY, WHERE THE STUFF THAT WE'RE GETTING RID OF IS WORTH NEXT TO NOTHING. WE HAVE THAT ENTIRE COST. I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS THE PURCHASE PRICE, HOW LONG DO WE PLAN ON KEEPING THIS EQUIPMENT, HOW MUCH CAN WE GET IN RETURN WHEN WE SELL IT. MAYBE IT'S 50%, AND THEN RUN THOSE NUMBERS BASED ON WHAT THE LEASE PRICE WOULD BE. OBVIOUSLY, IF WE WERE TO LEASE THIS EQUIPMENT, LET'S JUST SAY WE WERE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE LEASE EQUIPMENT, THAT NUMBER IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE A LOT LOWER FOR NEXT YEAR. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERY AVENUE. I THINK WE'LL TAKE YOUR THOUGHT AND WE'LL GO AND WE CAN COME BACK TO YOU AND TELL YOU WHAT WE FIND OUT. >> I JUST WANT TO BRING ONE OTHER PART. I THINK WITH THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING AT OUR GOLF COURSE, WHICH ARE ALL POSITIVE, I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE STAFF. IF YOU CAN SHOVE MORE STAFF AND GET THE SAME JOB DONE WITH LEASING EQUIPMENT, YOU'RE SO MUCH BETTER OFF. THE OTHER PART THAT I'LL JUST ADD TO IT, WHEN YOU'RE LEASING, AND I ASK THIS QUESTION ONLY FROM ONE OF THEM, AND I SAID TO HIM, I SAID, DOES A GRASS CUTTER CHANGE? IS THERE A LOT OF CHANGES INTO A GRASS CUTTER THAT YOU'RE CUTTING YOUR FAIRWAYS? THE GUY SAID, "TOMMY, THE MODEL FROM 2021 IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE MODEL OF 2023." IN TWO YEARS, THEY WERE ABLE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS JUST LIKE A CAR. THEY WERE BETTER EQUIPPED TO DO OTHER THINGS ON THE CAR. THE OTHER PART FOR YOU IS THAT THEY USED THAT MACHINE ON 18 HOLES, 900 DAYS OUT OF THREE YEARS. THAT'S ONLY 18. IT'S NOT 27. IT'S 900 DAYS THEY USE THAT MACHINE. >> YEAH. >> THAT'S A LOT OF USAGE. >> YEAH, THAT GOES BACK TO THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE EQUIPMENT. >> THAT'S WHERE THAT I THINK THAT I WOULD RATHER GET A NEW MACHINE AFTER 900 CUTS. >> WOULD ANY OF YOUR CONNECTIONS BE WILLING TO SHARE ANY OF THE LEASING INFORMATION WITH YOU? >> NO. >> ALSO, I JUST DID A QUICK LITTLE SEARCH, AND SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO PURCHASE WITH IS JOHN DEERE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE A LEASING PROGRAM. [00:25:04] ONCE AGAIN THOUGH, I THINK, ULTIMATELY, WE'LL GO BACK AND WE'LL TALK TO JEREMIAH AND SEE WHAT HIS THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT. WE CAN GET NUMBERS. >> I GOT A QUESTION. IF YOU LEASE, DOES THAT INCLUDE MAINTENANCE OR DOES IT DEPEND ON THE CONTRACT? >> WE WOULD ALSO LOOK INTO THAT BECAUSE, YEAH, LIKE A CAR, YOU LEASE A CAR, IT COMES WITH MAINTENANCE. IT'S POSSIBLE. MAYBE YOU CAN DO IT BOTH WAYS, IS YOU CAN DO IT WITH OR WITHOUT MAINTENANCE. >> YES, THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. >> YEAH. I DON'T WANT TO ASSUME ANYTHING, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LEASING OF EQUIPMENT, MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GREENS MOWERS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FAIRWAY MOWERS. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT FRONT END LOADERS. >> NO. >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT THAT IS PROBABLY USED EVERY SINGLE DAY. >> EXACTLY. >> OKAY. >> YEAH. WELL, THAT'S TRUE. >> THE ROLLERS, THE AERATOR, THAT KIND OF STUFF. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I GUESS A QUESTION, IT'S NOT EVEN A QUESTION. I GUESS IT'S A COMMENT. YOU CAN STAY THERE, PLEASE. IS HOW RECEPTIVE THE COMMISSIONERS IN THEIR BUDGETING DECIDED TO BE FORTHCOMING WITH CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE GOLF COURSE. IT SEEMS LIKE A CRITICAL FACTOR, ISN'T IT? >> I THINK IT IS, AND IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE. I DON'T THINK I CAN GIVE AN ANSWER THERE. >> THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHAT CAN THE GOLF BOARD MEMBERS DO TO POSSIBLY HELP? IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP THAT? BECAUSE I GET THE SENSE MOST OF US BELIEVE YOU NEED CAPITAL SUPPORT AND EQUIPMENT OF THE GOLF COURSE. >> YEAH. I'VE PUT IN FRONT OF YOU, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE CITY BUDGET CALENDAR. NEXT TUESDAY, THERE'S A SPECIAL MEETING. THE CITY COMMISSION IS GOING TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE. WHEN THEY ADOPT THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE, THEY CAN ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE, AND AT THAT TIME IN THE FUTURE, IT CAN BE LOWERED. BUT IF THEY ADOPT WHATEVER MILLAGE RATE THAT THEY ADOPT, THEY CAN'T GO BACK AND RAISE IT. AT THAT POINT, ONCE THEY ADOPT THEIR PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE, THEN WE GET INTO, AS YOU SEE, IN THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, WE GET INTO BUDGET WORKSHOPS. I THINK FOR ANY RESIDENT WITHIN THE CITY IF YOU, US, WE FIND THE GOLF COURSE IMPORTANT, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SPEAK OUT TO THE COMMISSION TO HELP SUPPORT THAT DURING THOSE BUDGET WORKSHOPS. BUT BASICALLY, WHAT HAPPENS AT THAT POINT IS NOW WE KNOW THAT, FOR THE MOST PART, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, AND THEN THE COMMISSIONERS ALONG WITH THE CITY MANAGER WORK TOGETHER TO ULTIMATELY THEN WHAT BUDGETS ARE SUBMITTED FOR EACH DEPARTMENT IS THAT'S WHERE CHANGES ARE GOING TO START TAKING PLACE. THAT $890,000, IT'S A BUDGET. CAN THAT NUMBER CHANGE? CAN THAT NUMBER GO UP? AS WE STATED EARLIER, WHAT IF WE MAKE 800, GRANTED, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A HUGE DIFFERENCE, BUT I ALWAYS WATCH OUR EXPENSES. JUST BECAUSE THE EXPENSE IS IN THE BUDGET, WE'RE AN ENTERPRISE. >> WE SHOULD BE WATCHING OUR EXPENSES AT ALL THE TIME. WE WILL WATCH OUR EXPENSES, WE'LL WATCH OUR REVENUE. ANY SUPPORT THAT THE BOARD CAN GIVE US OR THE COMMUNITY SHOULD ALWAYS, I THINK, SPEAK UP TO THEIR COMMISSIONERS. >> THAT WOULD COME UNDER JUST PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THAT WORKSHOP? >> YEAH, SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS. DOES THIS BOARD SUPPORT THE DIRECTION WITH THIS EXISTING BUDGET THAT WE'RE DOING? IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THERE IS ONE CONCERN, AND WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK INTO THE LEASING OF THAT MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT. [00:30:04] >> NO, THERE'S NO TIME LISTED FOR THESE BUDGET WORKSHOPS. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION? >> I BELIEVE THEY'RE AT SIX. I BELIEVE. >> WELL, YOU CAN FIND OUT BETWEEN YOU AND THE ONE [OVERLAPPING] >> WE CAN SEND OUT EMAILS TO YOU, ONCE IT DOES GET POSTED. >> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I DO. A QUESTION ABOUT SUPPORT? >> YES. >> I DO. I SUPPORT THE DIRECTION YOU'RE GOING. I THINK BOTH OF YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. THIS IS PROGRESS. IT'S GOOD. >> WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO BACK THIS BUDGET. >> SURE. >> I'M ASKING A QUESTION. >> I WOULD THINK WE WOULD BACK IT. >> IF WE CAN GO WITH A UNANIMOUS THING AND THEN HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE, AT LEAST ONE AT SOME OF THESE WORKSHOPS. THEN WE CAN SAY WE CAN SPEAK THE BOARD BELIEVES THIS IS THE RIGHT PATH TO GO. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU FUND IT. >> I THINK THAT'S GOOD THAT THIS BOARD WOULD MAKE THAT MOTION AND NOT ENFORCE, BUT BASICALLY YOU'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE LEADING WITH THIS EXISTING BUDGET WITH US OBVIOUSLY LOOKING INTO WHAT MEMBER CAMERA SAID AS WELL. >> GO AHEAD. [OVERLAPPING] >> BEFORE WE VOTE, I WILL GO ON RECORD AS SAYING AS LONG AS THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO TRY, I APPROVED THIS BUDGET. I JUST LIKE TO SEE IT SPREAD OUT AND SEE WHERE WE'RE AT BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE THE NEW GOLF DIRECTOR, HAVING A LOT MORE FREEDOM TO PLACE HIS ENERGIES INTO WHERE WE NEED TO BE PLACED IN AND NOT WORRY ABOUT EQUIPMENT, BUT WORRY ABOUT RAISING AWARENESS TO THE GOLF COURSE, RAISING MEMBERSHIP, GETTING OUT THERE AND TALKING TO THE MEMBERS, AND TALKING TO INCOMING MEMBERS. I THINK THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO PLACE. >> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP. WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT RENTALS. >> THAT'S WHERE WE HAD THIS MEETING WAS TO SEE THIS AND SO NOT. WE HAD QUESTIONS, WHICH TOM MADE A GOOD PROPOSAL. LOOK INTO THAT. WE STILL GOT TIME BEFORE THE BUDGET. HAD WE WAITED UNTIL NEXT MONTH, THIS MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED. >> I JUST LOOKED UP THE TIME FOR THE BUDGET WORKSHOP. THEY'RE AT FIVE OUT 6, 7, AND 8. >> I MENTIONED. >> CERTAINLY. COME ON. >> THE REGULAR MEETING IS AFTER THAT AT 6:00. >> I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. THEN ONE THING GOING BACK TO IS IF THIS IS APPROVED, AND AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND WE DETERMINED THAT THE LEASING IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO MONETARILY AND MOVING FORWARD, THEN ULTIMATELY, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S A BUDGET, WE ADJUST THEN AS WE GO. I THINK, ESPECIALLY FINANCIALLY, THAT IF WE FIGURE OUT THAT'S A CHEAPER AND MORE BENEFICIAL WAY TO GO FOR THE GOLF COURSE, WE'RE SPENDING LESS MONEY THEN. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT. >> I GUESS, WITH THE LEASING, YOU'RE STUCK WITH THAT. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU BOUGHT SOMETHING AND PAID FOR IT EITHER, BUT YOU HAVE THAT SAY IT'S 15,000 OR FOR A MORE PER YEAR. YOU GOT THAT SAME 15,000 OR FOR TWO OF THEM IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, TOO. NO PAID OFF. IT'S JUST A RECURRING CAPITAL LEASE PROGRAM. IT MAY BE THE BEST WAY. I DON'T KNOW. >> I'M GOING TO THROW A CURVE BALL AT YOU. IF IT'S 15,000, IT'S HALF OF THAT, AND YOU'RE OUT OF IT. YOU'RE GETTING A NEW ONE IN THREE YEARS [OVERLAPPING] AND $45,000 FIRST PAYING $90,000. >> UNTIL WE SEE SOME OF THE FIGURES, WE'RE JUST GOING BLIND ON THAT. >> IF YOU LOOK AT THIS NUMBER AND WE PURCHASED THIS FOR 45,000, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT'S OUR RETURN? OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO DEPRECIATE. BUT DEPENDING ON, I DON'T KNOW THAT NUMBER RIGHT NOW. IT COULD BE HIGHER THAN WE THINK AND THEN [00:35:04] THAT COULD SUPPORT THE PURCHASE INSTEAD OF THE LEASE. WE NEED TO PULL NUMBERS. >> I LOOKED AT THE PRICE THAT YOU COULD SELL AT GREENS MOWER FOR AFTER FOUR YEARS OF USE. I WAS 3,000. >> THERE'S NOTHING. >> THAT'S SURRENDER VALUE. >> BE THAT AS IT MAY, WE STILL NEED MONEY THIS COMING YEAR. THAT'S OUR CRITICAL THING TO KEEP THE GOLF COURSE OPERATIONAL AND GET THE EQUIPMENT IN PLACE. >> WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE WATCHING ALL OUR EXPENSES GOING FORWARD THIS YEAR TOO. >> YOU MAY BE FORCED INTO THE LEASE IF THE MONEY IS NOT FORTHCOMING FROM THE POWERS THAT BE. THAT COULD BE ALSO A PLAN B. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> HAVE THAT READY AS WELL DEPENDING ON THEIR GENEROSITY [OVERLAPPING] >> ANY OTHER OTHER QUESTIONS? >> COMMENTS? >> SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION REGARDING THIS CAPITAL EQUIPMENT PROJECTION? >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE BUDGET AS IS WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT IT WILL BE LOOKED INTO IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF A LEASING AS AN OPTION, AND IF IT'S WORTHWHILE. >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? >> NO. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS UNANIMOUS. >> [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. >> NO, GO AHEAD. >> I THOUGHT WE HAD A VOTE. I THINK WE STILL NEED TO DETERMINE HOW WE'RE GOING TO PUT ONE VOICE AT EACH OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS THAT SPEAKS FOR THE BOARD. >> I'LL GO ONE NIGHT WHENEVER IT IS. >> YES. WE TRY HERE MORROW. >> MAY NOT HAVE ALL OF THEM, BUT THE ONE ON THE SIXTH WOULD BE AT MORTON AND THE SEVENTH. THAT'S THE FIRST TWO. IT WILL BE THE TWO. >> WHATEVER ONE I WILL GO THE NIGHT THAT THERE'S A PRESENTATION BY THE GOLF COMMITTEE. [OVERLAPPING] YOU GUYS WANT ME TO GO. >> CAN YOU LET US KNOW ABOUT THAT WHEN THAT IS? >> WELL, IF IT'S POSSIBLE WE PROBABLY SHOULD ALL SHOW UP AND SPOKESPERSON. WE'RE ALL THERE. THEY DIDN'T JUST SEND TOM BECAUSE AND THAT'S IT. >> NOT 100 PERCENT SURE IF EACH DEPARTMENT WILL BE ACTUALLY GIVING A PRESENTATION. JEFFREY AND I WILL BE THERE. I'LL BE THERE FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. JEFFREY WILL BE THERE FOR GOLF. THE COMMISSION HAS QUESTIONS DURING THESE BUDGET WORKSHOPS. IT'S OUR JOB TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. I DO THINK AS MEMBER CORBETT HAD SAID, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH EVERY ONE OF YOU BEING THERE. AS MR. CORBETT ALSO SAID, THAT AS YOU CAN SEE ON HERE, IS SOME OF THEM ARE LISTED AS IF NEEDED. THEY MIGHT NOT GET TO THOSE. THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE TO SAY. >> THE FIRST TWO ARE IMPORTANT. >> THE FIRST TWO ARE THE OBVIOUSLY MOST IMPORTANT. >> IF YOU GO, YOU GOT A CHANCE, YOU DON'T GO. THEY DON'T NORMALLY GO. WELL, THEY'RE NOT HERE. LET'S GIVE THEM THE MONEY ANYWAY. >> [OVERLAPPING] EACH ONE OF YOU CAN SPEAK. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ONE SPECIFIC PURPOSE. >> THEY SEE YOU OUT THERE AT LEAST THEY WERE REMINDED. [LAUGHTER] >> DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THIS OR THE OTHER? >> I'VE GOT ONE. I THINK THE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN MINIMIZED BECAUSE OF MAYBE POLITICAL ABOVE THIS LEVEL MANAGEMENT PRESSURE. BECAUSE OF THAT, A LOT OF THESE NEEDS THEY'VE GROWN. IF THEY WERE ADDRESSED EACH YEAR, IT WOULDN'T BE IN THE CRISIS LEVEL THAT IT IS NOW. BUT WE'RE AT THIS LEVEL, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT REALLY DOES NEED THIS ANNUAL SUPPORT, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS NEED NEW EQUIPMENT EACH YEAR. THE GOLF COURSE IS NO DIFFERENT. IT'S NO LESS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S UP TO US TO DO OUR BEST TO GET TO COMMISSIONERS TO REALIZE THAT. [00:40:06] >> I AGREE. I THINK SINCE BEING HERE, THE LITTLE TIME I HAVE, THAT'S WHAT SCOTT AND I HAVE LOOKED AT IS TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS TOGETHER BECAUSE OF WHAT I'VE SEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE FOR A MONTH AND JUST SEEING HOW OUR EQUIPMENT IS. IT COULD GO FURTHER THAN JUST EQUIPMENT. THERE ARE ITEMS ON THE GOLF COURSE, RESTROOMS. THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS. TONIGHT, WE JUST ADDRESS THE EQUIPMENT. BUT ALL OF THOSE, WE'RE LOOKING AT LOOKING MORE LONG RANGE 1, 3, 5 YEAR PLANS. WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF THOSE, MAY BE HITTING THOSE AGAIN AS NEEDED, DEPENDING ON THE WHAT THOSE AREAS ARE AT THAT TIME OF YEAR. >> ONE THING ALSO THAT JEFFREY AND I HAD SPOKE ABOUT AND THE REASON WHY DOING A VEHICLE ROTATION PLAN. JEREMIAH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT HE DID MANY YEARS AGO IS DEVELOP A VEHICLE ROTATION PLAN FOR THE CITY, IS ULTIMATELY WITH THIS ROTATION PLAN IS, THIS GETS YOU SO YOU'RE NOT PURCHASING TWO FAIRWAY UNITS IN ONE TIME FRAME. I THINK LOOKING AT THE LEASE AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF THAT, BUT ALSO IF THE LEASE NUMBERS DON'T SHOW US THAT, THAT IS MORE BENEFICIAL. THEN ULTIMATELY, THIS NUMBER ON A YEARLY BASIS GETS REDUCED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT BUYING ALL OF THIS EQUIPMENT IN ONE YEAR. IT'S PLANNED ACCORDINGLY TO REDUCE [OVERLAPPING] >> YOU'VE RAN OUT OF YOUR TIME. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? >> I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT YOU'VE DONE A REMARKABLE JOB IN A SHORT TIME IN TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN CONTROL THAT'S IN [OVERLAPPING] >> I HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT, [OVERLAPPING] GOD'S DONE AND WHAT THE STAFF HAS DONE [OVERLAPPING] GREAT. >> IT'S NOT JUST ONE PERSON. IT'S EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE IDEA THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE IN THE SHORT TIME THAT YOU'VE BEEN THERE, YOU SHOWED YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING FORWARD WITH THIS. >> GOING FORWARD. >> BECAUSE THE GOLF COURSE IS REALLY GETTING BETTER. THAT'S BEEN THE PROBLEM. WE'VE GOT GRASS NOW, AND WE CAN'T CUT IT AND KEEP UP WITH IT, WHICH IS FUNNY. BUT IT'S GETTING BETTER. >> A LOT OF RAIN, THAT HELPS. >> WELL, MY FIRST FOUR WEEKS HERE, THREE OR FOUR WEEKS IT DIDN'T RAIN AT ALL. NOW IT RAINS EVERY DAY, BUT [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. >> WE STILL COULDN'T MOW GRASS WHEN IT WASN'T RAINING. >> YOU SAVED ON MY MOWERS. >> THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS THAT ARE COMPLAINING THAT THERE'S GRASS IN THE FAIRWAY, AND IT AFFECTS THE WAY THEY HIT THE BALL. [LAUGHTER] >> I FEEL SORRY FOR THEM. >> ME TOO. >> TELL THEM THEY'LL GET OVER. >> ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO COMMENTS. >> SOMETHING LIKE THE MOVEMENT TO ADJOURN. >> SECOND. >> SECOND FAVOR. >> I HAVE. >> THANK YOU. >> MEETING IS ADJOURNED. >> GOOD JOB, GUYS. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.