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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-7-20~~ AGENDA Nantucket Land Bank Commission Special Meeting of July 20, 2011 Miacomet Golf Club, 12 West Miacomet Road Nantucket, Massachusetts CALL TO ORDER: 4:00 P.M. A. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 1. Miacomet Golf Course -Planning Discussion ADJOURNMENT rv _: MINUTES Nantucket Land Bank Commission Special Meeting of July 20, 2011 Miacomet Golf Club, 12 West Miacomet Road Nantucket, Massachusetts CALL TO ORDER: 4:05 P.M. PRESENT: Bartlett, Gardner, Paterson, Reinhard, Stackpole. STAFF PRESENT: Eric Savetsky, Executive Director; Susan Campese, Assistant Administrator; Bruce Perry, Resource Planner/Ecologist Also present at call to order: Alan Costa, Miacomet Golf General Manager; Sean Oberly, Miacomet Golf Club Superintendent. Miacomet Golf Club Members: Phillip J. Raneri, Claire S. Raneri, Brian Secia, T.L. Halford, Nathan McMullen, Elle Foley, Kim Lamb, Jim Botticelli, Gretchen Callahan, David Callahan, Dick Brooks, Penny Scheerer, Nellie O'Gara, Chris Battat, Steve Roethke, Chris Kling and Jack Benjamin. A. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: a. Course Restroom Update: Mr. Costa reported that the plumbers were working on the restroom on the fourth hole and power issues were still being resolved for the restroom on the 16tH hole. He expected that all would be complete soon, hopefully by the end of the month. b. Financial Report -May: The Commission reviewed the balance sheet and profit and loss comparison through June 2011. Mr. Costa pointed out that cash was down and accounts receivables and inventory were up compared to June 2010 balance sheet. He said that overall revenue was up compared to last year, and that July looked promising. c. Miacomet Golf Club Planning Discussion: Chairman Stackpole welcomed everyone to the meeting and laid the groundwork for discussion by stating that the planning process was still in the preliminary stages, and that the building of a clubhouse was probably still a few years away. The Commission answered questions and received input from members regarding the clubhouse and long- term vision for Miacomet Golf Course ("MGC"). Several members spoke in favor of a new clubhouse or renovation of the existing clubhouse and one member spoke in favor of the existing plans drawn by Nathan McMullen and approved. by the Historic District Commission ("H.D.C."). Many spoke in favor of the current work being performed by Alan Costa and Sean Oberly to maintain the course in good condition. The benefits of a second floor restaurant were debated, with some stating that it would `create a sense of community' and was `needed for future generations.' Some members suggested that a separate function space could generate enough income to pay for the capital investments. Commissioner Paterson stated that before any improvements/building concepts could be considered, Land Bank Commission July 20, 2011 Page 2 the Commission first needed to determine how it would be paid for. Commissioner Reinhard stated that before any discussion on how a new building would be financed, the Commission needed to determine what amenities were needed. Chairman Stackpole questioned whether the Land Bank should be in the restaurant and function business at all. Commissioner Bartlett stated that all the planning was done backwards and that the full Commission didn't see the architectural plans until after they were submitted to the H.D.C. Moving forward, Chairman Stackpole said a survey of the members and public was needed in order to proceed. One member suggested it wasn't for the public to decide, but for members and staff who would be familiar with what was needed. Commissioner Gardner reminded everyone that Miacomet is a public course and that the public puts in $800,000 in greens fees to the operating budget each year. Commissioner Reinhard reiterated this was just the beginning of the process and that in the end, the Commission would make the decision as to what was needed and what MGC could reasonably afford. He assured everyone that whatever is done will be a credit to the Land Bank and the Town of Nantucket. Jesse Bell, Administrator/Fiscal Officer entered the meeting at 4:50 p.m. David Callahan left the meeting at 4: SI p. m. Commissioner Bartlett suggested that a survey should be more for MGC members rather than the public. He further stated that he would actually like to see a decrease in rates and stressed that he did not want MGC to become another Nantucket Golf Club. Mr. Savetsky informed the members that first and foremost, the Land Bank serves the general public, and that MGC members constitute a small percentage of the public. Additionally, Mr. Savetsky pointed out that since 1985, the Land Bank had spent a total of $22,000,000 on MGC, including the $11,000,000 spent since 1998 in upgrades to the course. Further, he pointed out that the Land Bank continues to carry a $5.5 million golf debt on which golf operations is paying the interest, but not principal. He questioned whether the Land Bank could legally have a `member's only' area in the clubhouse and as atax-exempt entity, if it can and/or should be in the function business at all. Mr. Savetsky stressed that the Land Bank Act authorizes the Land Bank to provide golf as an outdoor recreational activity on its property. He acknowledged that the restaurant, tournaments and golf functions were necessary amenities to golf, but that it was a delicate balancing act to ensure that the services being offered were strictly tailored to serve golf. Mr. Costa pointed out that most golf course restaurants were not profitable and that MGC really gets its money from membership dues and golf fees. Further, he restated his belief that the club could be self-sustaining with a new clubhouse and could support the building of such in the long-term, if not the short-term. Mr. Raneri, Ms. Raneri, Mr. Secia, Mr. Halford, Mr. McMullen, Ms. Foley, Ms. Lamb, Mr. Botticelli, Mrs. Callahan, Mr. Callahan, Ms. O'Gara, Ms. Battat, Mr. Roethke, Mr. Kling and Mr. Benjamin left the meeting at 5:02 p. m. Mr. Savetsky presented the revised public statement to the Commission for review. Upon a motion made and duly seconded, it was unanimously VOTED to approve the public statement as written and to email it to all members and post it on the Land Bank website. Mr. Savetsky asked the Commission to consider the questions he drafted for discussion to help them Land Bank Commission Page 3 July 20, 2011 make key decisions in planning for the future of MGC. The Commission discussed the style of club, functions, building size and foot print, dining room space for member functions, the need for lockers and showers, and winter hours of operation for the restaurant. Mr. Perry suggested looking at the bigger picture of future needs for cart and bag storage and hiring a moderator to help with strategic planning. Ms. Campese left the meeting at S: 30 p.m. and reentered the meeting at S: 36 p.m. Chairman Stackpole left at S: 38 p.m., turning the meeting over to Commissioner Gardner. Commissioner Gardner set the goal to have a completed questionnaire by the end of the July 26`" meeting. Commissioner Paterson asked to include questions on how to finance the project in the questionnaire. Mr. Costa reported that three members asked if they could donate money to the Land Bank to be used for the new clubhouse and suggested asking whether people would be willing to give donations on the questionnaire. ADJOURNMENT: Upon a motion made and duly seconded, it was VOTED to adjourn at 5:49 p.m. 1 ^ Attested to: 111, Allen B. R~ii~1a d, Secretary Accepted, Approved, and Released by VOTE of the Commission this 26th day of July, 2011. John J. ac ole, C airman DOCUMENTS AND EXHIBITS Nantucket Land Bank Commission Special Meeting of July 20, 2011 Documents and Exhibits Iist 1. Miacomet Golf Course -June Financials (incl. balance sheet and P&L comparison) 2. Draft public statement about Miacomet Golf Course 3. Miacomet Golf Course -Clubhouse Planning Questions