Disclaimer: The comments in this blog are my personal opinion and may or may not reflect an adopted position of the city of Glendale and its city council.
Tomorrow, Monday evening, November 19, 2018, at 6 PM in Council Chambers councilmembers will host a public forum to hear the voices of our community regarding not just the fate of Glen Lakes Golf Course but commentary regarding the city’s park system.
Council will not be there to respond or to defend any position but rather to listen to you. I believe this is a very consequential event. In my 17 years on city council I do not remember such a call to the people. As I said in a previous blog one either changes, adapts or dies. The city is changing in an attempt to become more open. Do we succeed all of the time? No, but we are trying. It’s an exercise akin to turning the Titanic. It’s a difficult and exceedingly slow process.
The issue before us is, of course, the fate of Glen Lakes Golf Course. There are equally valid arguments representing both sides. Perhaps the most compelling for those supporting the continuance of the golf course is the loss of major green space within our city. An equally valid argument for those opposed to keeping the course open is that the money required can be used throughout the city’s park system.
I would observe that when you speak on Monday evening it is unproductive to use your limited citizen speakers’ time to revisit history and cast blame upon the city for a lack of maintenance of the facility. Please do not squander your opportunity to share your opinion. I acknowledge that a lack of maintenance occurred. However, it was not the only city asset that suffered from a lack of maintenance. In addition to years of lack of maintenance of city facilities there were many projects deferred including the build out of parks and fire stations that needed renovation.
Council will be asked to decide whether to establish temporary facilities at the course with the goal of repairing permanent structures and keeping the course or whether to close the facility and sell the land using the proceeds for our entire park system. It is a difficult decision and one about which I continue to solicit information.
The opportunity to listen to the public representing all areas of Glendale is a very valuable chance for me to hear from those within the community with whom I might not have heard from previously. Citizens will have 3 minutes to speak. Think about the most important point you want to make. Prepare your remarks in order to be as effective as possible.
I received an email from a Glendale citizen that conveys the importance of this coming Monday evening and I share it with you:
“There is a group called Save Glen Lakes and they have been trying to avoid the For Sale sign going up at Glen Lakes Golf Course. This past Wednesday the Glendale City Council has given us, the citizens; a not very often granted Citizen’s Public Forum. Not only are they asking for input about the Glen Lakes Golf Course, but they want all citizens in Glendale to come forth and express their ideas about Glen Lakes and other projects having to do with Parks in Glendale.
I would strongly recommend attending the Monday night meeting just to show your concern and respect for the City we all live in.
Meeting is: Monday, November 19, 2018 at 6:00 P.M.
Location is: City Council Chambers. 5850 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, AZ
If you are unable to attend the meeting please email your comments to parksfunding@glendaleaz.com
Or: Leave a message with your comments on the dedicated comment hotline at 623‐930‐2740.
Your comments will be included in the public record.”
© Joyce Clark, 2018
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Joyce,
As always, very well said.
Golf course : Sometimes in life you need to move on , costs the taxpayers to much $ to repair and maintain. We talk about but the library hours have not been restore back to pre 2008 hours. Let’s make the golf course into a park that will maintain the green space. Still do not know who paid for the tunnel under Bethany home road?
Michael, The city paid for the tunnel and bridge that span Bethany Home Road.
Joyce, I hope our citizens will attend Monday night. Question: What is the cost of repairing the facility and what is the cost of maintaining monthly ? Golfers have gone to Desert Mirage and other courses. They may never get those players back. With Top Golf open they will get a big part of the golfers. Lets keep Desert Mirage open which as you know they have had issues also.
Tom, I can share what has been publicly offered by staff at council workshops. To put in a temporary trailer as a Pro Shop and a new maintenance shed is $628,162 for this year. Annual cost is $412,369. I keep Glen Lakes as a 44 acre park will require a capital investment of $3 to $5 million. The annual debt service on that amount is $215 to $360K. Operational costs as a park are $350 to $500K a year. Total costs annually as a park are $565 to $860 K a year. To rehabilitate the golf shop, electrical wiring, etc. (in other words to restore the course) is estimated at $5 to $7 million. I, personally, believe these cost estimates are too high but that is the information we have been provided to date.
Joyce, per the workshop on Nov.21,2018 we were provided revised numbers to repair the golf course 100%. As a home owner like most of you here we all know that you don’t remodel or improve the whole house at one time. Maybe stat with a bath then move to the kitchen a few years later more upgrades until it’s finish. This could be the same plan for the golf course. Start with the basics, repair of the buildings and compliance of building safety codes. The 1.5 million budgeted for a new Pro-shop and Clubhouse is outrages, I go there to play golf not to use the restroom with marble vanities and gold plated fixtures, and the toilets don’t need to be approved by NASA.
Lets get some real time costs proposals.
The new projected operating expense loss for F/Y 2018-2019 is $183,000 based on declining golf revenues. As stated at other Council City of Glendale meetings there is little or nothing being done to promote usage of the course. Wonderful ideas about mixed use and revenue producing programs were suggested by the residents of Glendale. A small amount of time is needed to evaluate and implement some of these ideas. The increases in revenue have not been factored in to the operation line item. TIME is what is needed. If you vote on Dec 11 to close the course its all over ,no going back the course dies and houses will be built. Joyce we are just asking for time to devise a plan to make Glen Lakes a break even venue. The city of Glendale could not buy the land install all of the infrastructures needed for $5 million to replace this landmark ,but it can kill it with a six minute vote. How about we revisit this in 6-8 months and give the residents of Glendale a chance to keep it alive and profitable. If the plan won’t work put it back on the agenda and vote to close it a later date. Just some TIME