As many of you remember, in 2021, the Town of Oro Valley approved a three-year provisional trial to keep the Pusch Ridge course open. Spring 2024 will mark the end of the provisional three years. For budgeting and planning reasons, the Town Council will make a decision on the course's fate in early 2024.
For the last year, FOPRG Board and Advisors have been working closely with the Town to promote the reinstatement of the course for upcoming years.
A motion by Councilmember Steve Solomon, seconded by Councilmember Harry Greene, was presented and approved to the Town Council to direct the Town's staff to develop a 'pro forma' document that Town Council members will use to decide the course's future fate.
The following is a draft outline summarizing the analysis that the Town Staff will be producing and delivering to Council in January 2024:
Context, history and public policy
Description of course facilities and conditions
Financial performance
Public benefit activities
Performance
Water analysis
Public perception
Market conditions assessment
Recommended practices for municipal golf courses (operational improvements)
Financial projections
Management structure
Other items
To develop the list of potential capital projects, a tour of the facilities and course has been organized for all respective Town departments and divisions to identify potential projects and needs. These tours will occur in mid-December 2023. They are being organized/conducted by Town and El Conquistador Golf staff.
Town staff has been working on developing project scopes, justifications, and costs for each identified project. Town staff will highlight which capital projects are necessary for facility preservation, which are required to continue operating the course, and those that would be nice to have.
Town staff has requested that the three surrounding HOA's (who have been paying a yearly financial contribution to the Town for aid in the continuing operation of the course) and FOPRG to provide the Town with documentation that answers:
What is working well?
What are your ideas for improvement?
What capital projects are a priority for your group over the next five years?
The HOA's and FOPRG are currently working on their documentation to answer the three questions. They will send their completed documents to the Town staff by December 15, 2023.
FOPRG will inform readers of any Town meetings, surveys, or correspondence needed to help persuade Town Council to keep Pusch Ridge open after May 2023.
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