The Lake Wilderness Golf Course Task Force is hoping to keep the swings straight, true and profitable in Maple Valley.
After about four months of intensive work, the task force presented the Maple Valley City Council with a series of recommendations to keep the course financially solvent at the Monday meeting.
The task force was formed in May at the direction of City Manager David Johnston.
He asked the task force to come up with ideas to help the balance sheet operation of the golf course, including the food and beverage operation.
The city purchased the course for about $4.5 million in November 2006. The golf course operation makes a small profit, but the food and beverage, which includes the restaurant, loses money.
The city is expected to kick in about $146,000 to bring the operation up to the break even point this year.
Johnston opened the discussion clearing some myths about the course. Johnston noted the city did not “just buy a golf course. They bought developable property that happened to be a golf course.”
He also said there are no city staff being paid by the golf course operation. It is currently being managed by Premier Golf Center, a Seattle-based golf course management company. Premier’s contract ends Dec. 31.
The No. 1 recommendation from the task force was to keep the course open, citing it is a unique asset for the city and has been part of the community since 1931.
The task force recommended raising the green fees by $5 per round and cart fees by $2 per rider. It also recommended operating the course like an enterprise fund, which is a type of government accounting where users are charged for services. The fees are supposed to pay for the fund. Governments often finance utilities or airports through enterprise funds.
The task force also recommended negotiating a one-year contract with Premier while the city requests proposals in 2011 from companies interested in operating the course.
One of the more controversial recommendations was to consider closing the restaurant operation, but keep the snack bar and also serve food from the bar where liquor is served.
Johnston said the plan is to work with the company that manages the course to make a final decision on the restaurant. Closing the restaurant may create problems keeping a liquor license.
“We haven’t given up on a full-service restaurant,” Johnston said. “What’s important is all these issues are on the table and we are finally paying attention as a city.”
Another recommendation that will be brought to council as a resolution is to end a proposal for a local improvement district.
Usually a LID is used when property owners agree to join together to pay for improvements that will create a benefit about the cost.
The task force noted a LID should have been created prior to the purchase and imposing one after the city bought the property was probably not a legally defensible action.
