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Session 1723, Budget Study Minutes <br />May 13, 1998 <br /> <br />was too close to the street and would be dangerous. Ms. Colquirt said that she <br />thought it would have been better to have a basketball court than the children <br />playing baseball there now and messing up the grass. Mr. Ollendorff said that <br />many basketball courts were put in, put citizen complaints at Council <br />meetings, caused some of them to come down. Mayor Adams said that even <br />now they get requests to modify or take down basketball courts that currently <br />exist. Ms. Colquitt says that she is hearing that the neighbors in this area <br />want a basketball court at Rabe. Mr. Ollendorff said that he would have staff <br />talk to the Park Board about having a hearing on it. Mr. Lieberman said that <br />the Lewis Park playground equipment does not look that bad and had talked to <br />the school district about placing it at Jackson Park school, because they would <br />love to have it. They probably would even haul it away, which would save us <br />money. Mr. Wagner confirmed that the equipment at Lewis was not in bad <br />shape, but was dangerous for younger children. <br /> <br />35.20 RUTH PARK GOLF COURSE: <br /> <br />Mr. Ollendorff said that he had sent Council a memo on Ruth Park Golf Course <br />dealing with the policy of operating it. He said that for a few years, they have <br />tried to maximize the play. Fees were increased to make sure the revenue <br />covered the costs of operation. Approximately 60,000 rounds of golf are played <br />a year, even days when there are 400 golfers on the course, which is a <br />tremendous load on a golf course. It takes forever to play, plus there is a lot of <br />wear and tear on the course. It is very difficult to keep the grass growing good. <br />Mr. Ollendorff said that Council could consider a change in philosophy, which <br />would cost us revenue, by not encouraging maximum play. The benefits would <br />be a more enjoyable round of golf and a better maintained course. One way to <br />do this would be to greatly increase the non-resident fee. Mr. Ollendorff said <br />that a lot of business would be lost. Responding to Mr. Lieberman, Mr. <br />Ollendorff said that Ruth Park rates very high in usage compared to other nine <br />hole courses. The rates are about average for non-residents. The rates for <br />residents is way below average. Mr. Ollendorff wanted Council to realize that <br />the City would have to subsidize the golf course with city money. Responding <br />to Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Ollendorff said that the golf course pays for itself. Mr. <br />Wagner asked that this issue be placed on the next study session. Responding <br />to Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Ollendorff said that the complaints were that it took to long <br />to play and the golf course is not in very good shape. Mr. Munkel asked that a <br />survey, of the people using it, be performed asking what they like or do not like <br />about the course; how would they feel about an increase in fees, etc. Mr <br />.Ollendorff said that he was not recommending that the resident fees go up, <br />only the non-resident fees. Mr. Munkel replied then a survey should be done <br />as to how many residents versus non-residents play there. Mayor Adams said <br /> <br /> <br />