HomeMy WebLinkAboutPackets - Council Packets (1673)Stine, Michelle
From: Standish, Michael
Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 8:19 AM
To: Stine, Michelle
Subject: FW: Mayor and Council Communication
Attachments: Council Email for November 3rd 2021 Comments.docx
From: Michael Schoeppach
Sent: Sunday, October 31, 202110:25 AM
To: Standish, Michael <mstandish@orovalleyaz.gov>
Subject: Mayor and Council Communication
Mr. Standish,
It would be greatly appreciated if you would ensure that the Mayor, Vice -Mayor and all Council
Members as well as the Town Manager and Parks and Recreation Director receive the attached
communication from me prior to the Council Meeting this coming Wednesday, November 3, 2021.
If I need to take any further action to make certain this is accomplished, please let me know at your
earliest convenience.
Thank you for your assistance with this matter.
Sincerely,
Michael Schoeppach, President
EI Conquistador Men's Golf Association
1
October 31, 2021
Mayor Winfield, Vice -Mayor Barrett, and Council Members Bohen, Greene, Jones -Ivey,
Nicolson, and Solomon:
As President of the El Conquistador Men's Golf Association, this communication
addresses my perspective regarding the issue of the DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION
ON THE EL CONQUISTADOR 36 HOLE GOLF COURSE, IRRIGATION SYSTEM
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT that is on the November 3, 2021, Town Council
Agenda. Consequently, I will not take up any time at that evening's Town Council meeting with
a Blue Card presentation.
In October and November of 2019, the former Council took action to continue the
operation of thirty-six holes of golf owned by the Town at the Community Center. As part of
that action, they directed that future capital and other expenses at the facility be paid for on a
"pay-as-you-go" basis. The Mayor further defined certain "bench marks" he believed the facility
needed to set as "goals" going forward. During the entire discussion related to the golf courses it
was always clear that given the fact the irrigation systems on both courses are well over 30 years
old and well beyond their useful life, they needed to be replaced.
At the May 5, 2021, Council meeting, this Council took action to modify the Ordinance
that governed the 0.5 cent Sales Tax revenues previously dedicated to the Community Center
Fund. In doing so they subsequently specified that the broadening of this use was intended to
allow for bond financing of Parks and Recreation capital projects, including the irrigation
replacement costs for the golf courses, stating that the "pay-as-you-go" approach was no longer
operative.
On various occasions, the Mayor and others have stated that the golf course operation has
met the "bench mark goals" that were set back in 2019 regarding tax support requirements, golf
membership numbers, and virtually all other metrics set at that time.
Most recently, the Mayor and others have commented that the year -ending fiscal status of
the golf operation whereby only approximately $256,000 in tax support was required, as opposed
to the $750,000 set as the "goal" for the 2021-22 fiscal year, and that such an outcome "exceeded
his expectations." In fact, the golf course asset far exceeds any other Parks and Recreation
amenity with respect to the level of tax support that is required for its operation.
Based upon the foregoing, it is obvious to me, and I believe should be to all objective
individuals, that the only rational and ethical decision the Mayor and Council can make with
respect to the cited Agenda item regarding the golf course irrigation project is to adopt Option 1.
The staff report accompanying this item is clear. The other two Options provided violate
existing agreements and would ultimately cost citizens millions of dollars more. They are also
contrary to the previous action of this and prior Councils and would render those actions and the
statements recently made regarding the golf operations disingenuous.
Thanks for your consideration, and I'm willing to discuss this further if desired.
Sincerely,
Michael Schoeppach, President
El Conquistador Men's Golf Association
cc: Mary Jacobs, Town Manager
Kristy Diaz-Trahan, Parks and Recreation Director
Stine, Michelle
From:
Standish, Michael
Sent:
Monday, November 1, 2021 10:29 AM
To:
Stine, Michelle
Subject:
FW: Nov 3 agenda
Follow Up Flag:
Follow up
Flag Status:
Flagged
-----Original Message -----
From: Sirois, Andrea <asirois@orovalleyaz.gov>
Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 10:26 AM
To: Standish, Michael <mstandish@orovalleyaz.gov>
Subject: FW: Nov 3 agenda
If helpful, please see below.
-----Original Message -----
From: Peggy Milbrand.
Sent: Saturday, October 30, 20216:59 PM
To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov>
Subject: Nov 3 agenda
I respectively wonder why you continually look to "kick the can down the road.' The EI Conquistador golf courses are
basically the only revenue producers in the parks and recreation arena yet you are again looking to delay renovations
that have been approved and are NECESSARY. If they had been started when first discussed the costs would have been
less than what we are currently being quoted. If you "kick this can" again... prices will go up more and you have a real
possibility of creating significant damage and more costs. Let's move on. Get the work done before we have to keep
increasing the 'band-aid' budget.
Option 1 is the only sensible option. Let's put this issue to bed and get on with it.
Peggy Milbrandt, REALTOR and OV homeowner HomeSmart Advantage Group