Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-20-2002 GOLF MINUTES .. ... . .. ',....,: .... `.:�i+61 , ' * �' S . . -.. ,� o� '; i CALDWELL GOLF BOARD • Advisory Board Nieeting � March 20, 2002 City Councif Room MEMBERS ATTENDING Boyd Cooper Chairman Shirley Akagi Vice Chairman rran Craeger Women's Association Representative Larry Rick Men's Association Representative Shannon Ozuna Council Representative Elvin Simpson Jeff Osgood Loraine Navis MEMBERS UNABLE TO ATTEND Dan Roweil Sl'A�F ATTENDiNG - John Watson Purple SagePro • Lenny Stroup Fairview Golf Pro Gordy Crockett Goif Course Superintendent _ STAFF UNABLE TO ATTEND - GUESTS AGENDA 1) Chairman's report 2) Report from John Waison 3) Report from Lenny Stroup 4) Report from Gordy Crockett 5) New or old business Chairman Cooper called the meeting to order and took the roll cali. 1} CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Cooper told the board the Mr. Ralph Little, chairman of the Canyon Highway District #4 is supposed to be at the meeting but so far he hasn't shown. Cooper toid the board of a letter he received from Mr. Littie about a proposed pathway along #12 and 13 fairways at Purpie Sage on EI Paso road. The letter was written to Mayor Nancolas with copies to the • . , . , • � i Middleton School District #134, Boyd Cooper Chairman, Caldwell Golf Board, John Watson, ' • Purple Sage professional and Gordon Law, Public Works director, City nf CaldwelL Cooper read the letter to the board (copy attached) after which he asked the board for comments. Larry Rick said it sounds to him like they wanted to take a bunch of golf course land and charge us to build a fence while all they do is furnish the gravel. Cooper told the board that he v��as sorry Mr. Littie did not make the meeting so he could answer the many questions that would come up. CQOper said the Mr. Little indicated that he has taken Mayor Nancolas out ta the course and showed him what they want to do. Several board members said they did not understand why they wanted to take all the easement on the golf caurse side of the road and leave the east side residential property ' alone° A long discussion followed and several members of the board spoke out in disagreement with wlhat the Highway District wants to do. They feel that it is unfair to take all of the property for the footpath from the golf course side of the road. - It was noted by Gordy Crockett that they probabiy have a legal right to take the right-of-way - but daubt if they can legally take it all from one side. Cooper said it sounds like they are going to try and sell the City of Caldwell the idea that all of the pathway would come from the golf course. Gordy said some of the f�ouses on the east side are pretty close to the road. • Cooper remarked that without Mr. Little being at the meeting it will be impossible to get the answers we need. Coop�er said he wiil try to get Mr. Little at the next meeting. Cooper said that it is going to be interesting to.see how the Mayor, EIJay Waite an�l the City Council feel about this ptan. Shannon Ozuna said that this is the first she has heard of the planned project. Jeff Osgood said that he is sorry that the property owners had built their homes too close to the road, but #hey only ha�re a legal right to a certain amount and we shouidn't have to give it all from our side. The problem is that some poor golfer is going to bean some kid and walk out with a$100,0� lawsuit. And then the City of Caldwell will get jumped on for letting the waik path be built right next to where they know golf balis fly ail of the time, and we will be right in the mid'dle of that law suit. Shirley Akagi said that Ed Vining had contacted her about the Golf South Idaho brochure, and that he thought it was important that we be in it. Cooper toid Shirley that at a previous meeting we had decided to bag the Golf South Idaho brochure and we should stick with that decision. Shirley said a lady from €�est Western who wants us to run an ad in a Best Western publication has contacted her. The board told Shirley to tell her that we aren't interested at this time. Shirley said she would call her and tell her. � REPORT FROM JQHN VYATSON , . r � - - - � _.-",� l 3; • John �aid that Zach Wagoner's wife, who does the purple sage bookwork, is having a baby X so he doesn't have up to date figures to report. He says that we are running slightly ahead in revenue. John said that some peopie want to have a Steila Zamora Scholarship Fund Tournament on a Sunday in September. John asked the board if he should ailow this event. The board told John to use his judgement and ailow the event if he could work it in okay, otherwise not to allow it. 2) FROM LENNY STROUP Lenny reports that even though we have raised the fees he is up over nine thousand dollars over last year in season passes and with an increase in green fees he is up thirteen thousand dollars in total revenue. Lenny said he has a letter from the District Court saying that they had a letter of apology from a young man who damaged the Fairview Golf Course. Lenny read the letter from Jason Wilson who apologized for damaging the green on the 8th hole. 3) REPORT FROM GORDY CROCKETT Gordy reports that work has started on the new restroom at Purple Sage by the number two green_ • Gordy said we have already had some vandalism at the new res troom at number 15 tee off. _ 4) NEW OR OLD BUSINESS Larry Rick asked if there had been a decision on replacing Gordy when he retires at the end of this month. Cooper said EIJay told him that he was going to recommend to the City Council that we begin the hunt #or a new superintendent. He said that a selection committee would be formed for this selection process. Cooper said that several people have expressed interest in the position. Larry Rick from the Men's Association asked the board if they could expand the men's association tee times for an additionai 15 minutes. Cooper asked John Watson if he had any objection to this. John said he did not object because he thought the men's and women's associatians are the best supporters of golf in Caldweil and they deserve the tee times. Jeff Osgood said he had heard that some people are going to object ta this giving of preferred tee times to these groups. The board told John Watson to go ahead with this proposal if he could work it out okay. Larry Rick said he wili still be the representative for the men's association on the board. � � � M r At this point EI Jay Waite entered the meeting. • Cooper asked EI Jay about the letter from the Highway District to the Mayor. EI Jay said he ha had not read or seen the letter. He said he wouid find out about it. EI Jay said that a selection committee would be formed to start looking for a replacement for Gordy Crockett. Shirley Akagi asked EIJay who wouid be Iooking after the course while a new person is being sought. � EIJay said people are in place who will see that the work on the course is done. Shirley Akagi asked EIJay if we would have a monthly print out of how we are doing financially. She asked about the fund for Junior Golf and the fund for a new course. EIJay said he would see about getting these figures put together for the board. No other business the meeting was adjourned. • � CANYON HIGHWAY DISTRICT No. 4 15435 HIGHWAY 44. CALDWELL, IDAHO 83607 ' TELEPHONE 208/454-8135 FAX 208/454-2008 Mazch 11, 2002 The Hon. Garrett Nancolas Mayor, City of Caldwell 621 Cleveland Blvd. Caldwell, ID, 83605 Re: Proposed Pathway, Vicinity of Purple Sage Golf Caurse on El Paso Road Dear Mayor, The following is intended to expand upon our informal discussions of Mazch 4, 2002 conceming a - proposed footpath aiong the west side of El Paso Road on present golf course property. Background: In response to the imminent construction of a new elementary school by the Middleton School District on El Paso Road, the Highway District has recommended that a footpath be constructed to the new school from the neazby subdivisions. The • School, which plans to open in the Fall of 2003, will include grades K thru 6. - Although the School District plans to bus students from these subdivisions, the Highway District believes their plan only satisfies the student traffic requirement at the opening and closing times on regular schooldays. It does not take into account off-hour activity, missed-bus traffic, or recreational foot traffic to the school after hours, weekends or non-school days. The Highway District believes that schools, with their indoor and outdoor facilities, tend to serve as magnets which attract people of all ages for a variety of reasons. Moreover, the surrounding neighborhood is destined for additional residential growth which will further add to the pedestrian and vehicular traf�c. The pathway issue is pending an appeal by the Highway District to the Board of County Commissioners from a recent decision by the County P&Z Board. The basis for the appeal concerns an issue of traffic safety similaz to a decision by the City of Middleton for school safety in 1987. However, the Highway District would prefer an alternative solution to this problem, and withdraw the appeal. Proposal: The Highway District recommends that an asphalt pathway be constructed along the west side of El Paso Road from Purple Sage Road northward to the new school site. It is also proposed that this project be accomplished through a joint exercise of powers arrangement with the Middleton School District, the City of Caldwell � (and its Golf Board), and the Canyon Highway District. � � . � Factors and Issues �earing on the Proposal: The Highway District has a deeded right-of-way dating � from 1908, which provides for a 50-foot wide highway along the El Paso Road section-line from near the Boise River northward to Goodson Road. In recent yeazs an a�ditional 15 feet has been obtained from local subdivision development. As a result, a 40-foot right-of-way is nearly achievable on one side ofthe road or the other from Purple Sage Road to the new school site. Nearly, but not entirely, as there are one or two exceptions. The �ong-range plan for El Paso Road is the eventnal use as a multi-lane collectQr highway, but it is ezpected to remain as it is presently configured over the nezt 5 to 10 years. �n or�r to sat�sfy a patn requirement, tne Hignway District could supply most ofthe needed right-of way along the east side of El Paso northward for one-half mile, then cross to the west side at the R&R Subdivision, and proceed on to the school site. Tlle east side is partly developed, or pending development from recent approvals, but fnr the exceptions cited above. However, the highway in this locality has been constructed primarily with borrovu-type drainage. As a result, residents have landscaped their properties into the highway right-of-way, which creates some problems where a pathway might be added. The Highway District is reluctant to disrupt this practice, unless it is for the purpose of an overall widening of the road. - Until ti�at becomes necessary, the present landscaping activity contro]s the weeds and litter, �nd is faz more appealing to the eye. • . : In searchin for a . . g possible altemahve to a pathway on the east side, fhe Highway Distriet suggests that the entire path be constructed on the west side. Most of the distance would be on the City's golf course property. The northerly section woulc� be on highway right-of-way adjacent to the R&R Subdivision, where it would be constructed outside a fenced tennis lot; two residentiallots and an open well lot. Part of the rationale for a path along the golf course side is the obvious open ground for ease of construction. Other reasons ir�clude: (1) The fact that current golf activity includes a problem in which errant balls land across El Paso and onto private properties. (2) There is also a walking jogging contingent oflocal residents who have been using the highway for a footpath Although the average da.ily traffic (ADT) numbers aze 1ow, they will increase significantly with the opening of the new school from 470 ADT to well over 1200 ADT. (3) The existing fence along the City's golf course property has suffered with age and neglect. It is hardly what one would classify as a secure barrier against unauthorized intruders. A new fence, siY to eight feet in height, � would not only improve the security issue, but it would also provide shielding _ _____ _ , � against errant golf balls reaching neighboring properties, as well as protecting � � foot traffic on a pathway. In addition; the sprinkler system that is-installed along the periphery of the golf course has often been guilty of irrigating the highway as well as the interior fairway. (4) The golf course facilities that would be affected include the main components for two holes of golf. One green, the 13th, is very close to the eventual right-of-way at the north end. There are some trees that would also be within an expanded right-of way, and some parts of a landscape bulkhead at a tee near the southem end would aLso be affected. If the right-of-way need is rec�eced by 5 feet, it appears that major changes to the course facilities can be avoided. Even the trees along the fairways could be spared for tne moment, since there aze no plans for widening the road in the near time-frame. (5) The Highway District will eventually need an additional 15 feet of right-of-way on the west side of El Paso when growth (and traffic) exceeds - the road's present capability. Surnmary: The issue of tra.ffic safety is the responsbility of the Highway District, but it looks to others for support to maintain and improve safety. In this case, the Highway District desires that the School District provide a path for foot traffic as a result of the impact . which will be created by its new school. The City is asked to assist by providing � additional right-of-way. It is also suggested the City repla.ce its e�cisting fence with - one similar to that constructed on the periphery of its Fairview Course. This contribution would be a gesture of goodwill by the City (Golf Course) as a member of a growing neighborhood. The Highway District is prepazed to furnish needed right-of-way, coordinate and approve path design, provide gravel material for pathway base, accept responsibility for a completed path, and assist in other ways as may be necessary. It is recomrriended tha.t construction not begin until after the 2002 golf season. Your comments and support will be appreciated. Respectfully yours, �L� P . i etfI hairman cc: Middleton School District #134 Boyd Cooper, Caldwell Golf Board John Watson, Purple Sage Golf Professional Gordon Law, Public Works Director, City of Caldwell �