Council has directed staff to study in calendar year 2000 the City’s golf course reservation policies to determine whether it would be appropriate to provide advantages to Sunnyvale residents. This report provides City Council the opportunity to review and comment on staff’s proposed work plan for completing this particular Study Issue. The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed this matter on February 9, 2000, and recommended adoption of staff’s work plan.

Current golf course policies regarding tee reservations place all golfers on equal ground. That is, both residents and non-residents have equal opportunities to place in-person and/or phone reservations to play golf.

Many resident golfers have suggested that because all golfers pay the same amounts for green fees, Sunnyvale residents at least ought to have some preference in reserving their tee times.

Council directed staff to study this issue in calendar year 2000, and to prepare a work plan for Council’s review prior to embarking on the study.

Recreation Sub-Element of the City of Sunnyvale General Plan:

POLICY C. 3.: Utilize available pricing and promotional tools in order to maximize participation and/or use related to programs, facilities, and services, without jeopardizing the integrity and infrastructure of related facilities.

Action Statement C.3.b.: Structure the pricing and enrollment system for class registration and facility reservation to give City residents advantage over non-residents, where feasible and appropriate.

Attachment A (Work Plan – Consider Golf Course Reservation Policies to Provide Advantages to Sunnyvale residents) depicts staff’ recommended work plan for this Study issue. It incorporates several public meetings designed to solicit the input of interested residents, as well as the gathering of survey data designed to solicit the input of those not inclined to attend public meetings. It also identifies two scheduled opportunities for interested parties to observe current tee reservation practices at the City’s golf courses in the presence of golf staff.

The Parks and Recreation Commission would study this issue and make its recommendation to Council prior to Council taking action in September of 2000.

There is no fiscal impact related to the work plan portion of this study issue. Potential fiscal impact of providing Sunnyvale residents an advantage(s) in placing golf tee reservations will be determined and provided in staff’s final Report to Council on this Study Issue.

Public process leading to Council’s December 9, 1999, Budget and Study Issues Workshop (please see Attachment B – Proposed Council Study Issue Paper – No. PRD-3).

Publication and posting of the agenda for the Parks and Recreation Commission public hearing on February 9, 2000. Notice of this report was published as an item for public hearing for March 7, 2000, meeting of the Sunnyvale City Council.

Staff recommends Alternative 1, direct staff to complete the Study Issue in accordance with the work plan as outlined on Attachment A. The Parks and Recreation Commission recommends Alternative 1 as well.

Prepared by:

Curtis Black
Superintendent of Parks

Reviewed by:

Robert A. Walker, Director
Parks and Recreation

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala
City Manager

1. Work Plan: Consider Golf Course Reservation Policies to Provide Advantages to Sunnyvale Residents.
2. Proposed Council Study Issue paper – No. PRD-3.