HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-11-19 - City Commission Special Meeting MinutesSPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2014
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Dressler called the special meeting of the City Commission to
order at 10:09 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at Colony West Golf Club, 6800 NW
88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida, 33321. The purpose of the meeting was to have
representatives from Billy Casper Golf provide the Commission with an overview of the
operations, future forecast and tour of the facilities and golf course.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Harry Dressler, Vice Mayor Pamela Bushnell, Commissioner Michelle J.
Gomez, Commissioner Diane Glasser and Commissioner Debra Placko were in attendance.
Also in attendance were City Manager Michael C. Cernech, Assistant City Manager Diane
Phillips, Assistant City Attorney Julie Klahr, City Clerk Patricia Teufel, Financial Services
Director Mark Mason, Public Information & Media Specialist Elise Boston, Captain Neal
Glassman, Public Services Director Jack Strain, Parks & Recreation Director Greg Warner,
Colony West Golf Club General Manager Tony Harris, Chef Derick Officer, Director of Sales,
Food & Beverage Pamela Bogart and Golf Course Superintendent Rick Cernera.
City Manager Cernech said this meeting is being conducted in compliance with Florida's
Sunshine Statutes and the point of the meeting is to show the Commission how funds have
been invested in Colony West in the last year. City Manager Cernech said a year ago a plan
was put in place to make Colony West work and the Commission has been very supportive of
this endeavor. The City hired the best company to manage this asset and we are already
seeing improved value in this property as well as surrounding properties. City Manager
Cernech said over the last year the Commission has authorized staff to do a number of things
like the leasing of golf carts, maintenance of buildings, improvements to the golf course and
around the golf course and thought it was time to get the Commission out here and see what
has been accomplished.
City Manager Cernech talked about how the City maintains all city facilities and added that
we are very lucky to have Public Services Director Strain and his staff working on Colony
West Golf Club. City Manager Cernech said he recently had lunch with Millennium Middle
School Principal Cheryl Cendan where they talked about how poorly the School District
maintains their facilities. City Manager Cernech Tamarac has budgeted appropriate amounts
of money so that we do not have significant deferred maintenance at our facilities; however,
Colony West is an exception and it will take time to bring the facility up to par.
City Manager Cernech said staff wanted to let the people who manage Colony West talk to
the Commission and then take time to see some improvements made on the course and
added that the Commission will not be making any decisions at this time.
Mayor Dressler said the reason the City decided to buy Colony West was to preserve the
open space and increase its value as well as the value of the surrounding communities and
added that the appreciation of the value of the land exceed what has been spent.
Page 1 of 3 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING November 19, 2014
Financial Services Director Mason said that one of the reasons we have Billy Casper
representatives here is to talk about where we were and where we are now and the tour will
let the Commission know how the course has improved as well as surrounding properties.
City Manager Cernech thanked Public Services Director Strain and his staff for the work they
have done here and would be remiss in not thanking Financial Services Director Mason for
the job he has done. As a golfer, Financial Services Director Mason has a good perspective
as to how a golf course should look, fee and function.
Mr. Harris introduced himself, Chef Officer, Ms. Bogart and Mr. Cernera to the Commission.
Mr. Cernera said he used to play golf at Colony West back in the 80's and 90's and at that
time it was considered a gem of a course in South Florida and his goal is to bring it back to
where it used to be. Mr. Cernera said he is the steward of the land and everything he does is
environmentally sound. Mr. Cernera said when he started there were many challenges as
the course was not in good shape and it is now good to see the course responding to proper
maintenance and he is seeing significant improvements. Mr. Cernera talked about re -sodding
the greens and commented that #17 was in the worst shape and now it is looking better and
is encouraged with the progress. Mr. Cernera said he senses a cultural change in the
community towards the positive improvements and encouraged the Commission to call him
with any concerns.
Chef Officer said the kitchen was a disaster when he arrived and he and his
staff worked
hard to get it to
acceptable standards.
Chef Officer said the
kitchen opened in
January and
he created a new basic country club
menu with daily specials. Chef Officer
said he has
implemented bi-monthly
themed events
such as Friday
Fish Fry, Italian
night and in
December they
will be a starting a
prime rib night. Billy
Casper Golf is doing a lot of
advertising and
getting the word out.
He is getting a lot of
good feedback on
the banquet
facility and feels they will be getting more business once the season starts. Chef Officer said
he teaches and trains his staff on all health and safety issues and requires his staff to be
state certified.
Ms. Bogart said prior to the March opening of the banquet facility they were already receiving
calls for booking events and noted that have completed 54 events to date, they have 11 more
booked through December with 14 events scheduled for 2015. Ms. Bogart said she has a
program that she works with to keep track of how they are doing and a follow-up program to
make calls to people for planning events. Ms. Bogart said she is involved with multiple
Chambers of Commerce and attends many local events to get the word out about Colony
West and is even partnering with schools in order to secure events.
Mr. Harris said he started work on January 1, 2014 is happy to be here and hopes he will be
for a long time as Tamarac is a great organization to work for. Mr. Harris said when they had
the soft opening on January 15, 2014 they had 0 rounds, are now approaching 40,000 rounds
and they are looking to peak at around 50,000 rounds this year. Mr. Harris talked about their
partnership with CanAm and GolfNow being vital to ensure that they continue to grow in
rounds. Mr. Harris said they, have 3,700 guests in their data base and they send out blast
emails to 70,000 golfers in order to continue to grow.
Page 2 of 3 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING November 19, 2014
Mr. Harris, Ms. Bogart, Chef Officer, Financial Services Director Mason and Public Services
Director Strain, responded to questions, concerns and suggestions from the Commission.
Assistant City Attorney Klahr gave the Commission and Billy Casper Golf staff instructions on
how to conduct themselves during the tour and lunch in order to comply with the Sunshine
laws of the State of Florida.
There being no other business Mayor Dressler adjourned the meeting at 11:10 a.m.
• . ' w
IV
Harry Dressler, Mayor
Patricia Teufe'i, CM
City Clerk
Page 3 of 3 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING November 19, 2014