Item No. 4.
TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY:JASON CHACON, DIRECTOR OF PARKS & RECREATION
DATE:AUGUST 25, 2026
SUBJECT:AUTHORIZE EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO PORTION OF DRIVING RANGE NETTING AT
THE RIO HONDO GOLF COURSE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider approving emergency repairs to the South side range netting and improvements on hole #14 of the driving range at the Rio Hondo Golf Course, ensuring the highest safety conditions for golf patrons and adjacent residential property. Large portions of the netting had been frayed and torn over the years, but recent severe winds further degraded and ripped the netting, requiring its immediate replacement.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
Authorize the appropriation, purchase, and installation of driving range netting from Judge Netting for repairs to the South side range netting and improvements on hole #14 of the driving range at the Rio Hondo Golf Course in an amount not to exceed $190,555.
BACKGROUND
The Rio Hondo Golf Course was built in 1929, and it was owned and operated by Los Angeles County up until 1970, when it was purchased by the City of Downey. It has been recognized as one of the best public golf courses in Southern California. The Rio Hondo Golf Course hosts over 80,000 rounds of golf annually and receives over 600,000 visits per year. The two-story driving range holds 30 range mats and is 580 feet long by 230 feet wide, and between 30-75 feet high. Range netting has been installed on the driving range to protect errant golf balls from entering the nearby area of play and potentially striking patrons on nearby holes. The current south-side netting is 26 years old and was installed in 1990 with a life expectancy of 7-10 years against UV degradation. While the netting has outlasted its originally estimated expectancy, it is now ready for replacement due to UV and weather degradation. The driving range serves as a key component of the property that serves as a warm up facility for players, allows golf instruction to to be provided to all ages through City recreation classes, and is a general practice area for patrons working on their skills.
ANALYSIS
The south section of the driving range is adjacent to the fairway of the first hole. Over the years, different parts of the netting have become frayed and torn in large sections that are too high for City staff to repair. Some recent severe winds have caused larger portions to become torn and exposes golfers on the first hole to errant driving range golf balls. The repairs of the netting will restore the safety areas of nearby golfers playing the first hole.
Likewise, some of the current netting along hole #14 that protects homes along Rio Hondo Drive, have degraded sections of netting that require replacement as well.
Staff reached out to various golf netting installation companies to receive quotes and repair timeline availability.
Judge Netting was the only company with immediate availability to complete the project. The project is estimated as follows:
Driving range repairs: $109,500
Hole #14 repairs: $56,200
15% Contingency: $24,855
Total: $190,555
Staff believe it is in the best interest of the City to complete the repairs now before larger sections of the netting tear and create unsafe conditions in the impacted areas.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Safety and Infrastructure
Fiscal Responsibility
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended action will result in the appropriation of $190,555 from the Golf Enterprise Fund, account 52-4-4420-0700. There is sufficient fund balance for the recommended action.
Attachments
Attachment A: Judge Netting Rio Hondo Golf Course Proposal and Contract
11851 Westminster Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843
Office (800) 955-6788 (714) 265-2200 FAX (714) 265-2400 California Contractors License # 779080 A, B, C10, C13, C61, D31, HAZ DIR #1000005816 www.judgenetting.com
Proposal and Contract
August 3, 2026
Mr. Steve LaBarge, PGA: Director of Golf
Rio Hondo Country Club
10627 Old River School Rd.
Downy, CA 90241
Re: Left Range Net Replacement & #14 Improvements
Dear Mr. LaBarge:
We propose to supply the material, labor, and equipment necessary to perform the following:
- Remove & replace the (4) damaged netting panels on the hole #14 barrier and repair (4) smaller holes. The new netting will be UV treated golf netting with sewn in perimeter, vertical, and horizontal rope border and will be re-attached to the top of the existing chain link fence. We will properly dispose of the removed netting offsite. All cable & hardware to remain as is. ______HOLE #14 PANEL REPLACEMENT: Price for this work as described above is $12,300.
- Install a new approximately 80’ high x 20’ long barrier extension using a new fully treaded wood pole designed for local wind and soil conditions. No extension will be used. Spoils from drilling will be properly disposed of offsite. New netting will be installed from that newly installed pole and connect to the current netting barrier pole. All new netting will be UV treated golf netting with sewn in rope border and vertical rib lines and will stop at 8’ above ground. New cable will be 5/16” and 3/8” extra high strength guy strand along with ¾” galvanized heavy duty pole hardware. We will install galvanized anchors and down guys at the ends of the barrier as needed.
______HOLE #14 EXTENSION: Price for this work as described above is $43,900.
- Remove & replace the entire left side netting on the range. The new netting will be UV treated polyester golf netting with sewn in perimeter, vertical, and horizontal rope border. We will properly dispose of the removed netting offsite. All cable & hardware to remain as is.
______LEFT RANGE: Price for this work as described above is $109,500.
We are a licensed California Contractor, and all applicable taxes & prevailing wages are included in this proposal. (Please initial, total, and sign where applicable upon acceptance).
Payment Terms:
Monthly progress payments due upon scope completion NET 15. Invoices not paid when due are subject to a service charge of 1-1/2% per month. This is an annual percentage rate of 18%. Should a suit be instituted to enforce the provisions of this Proposal and Contract, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs as determined by the court or other tribunal hearing the matter. Time is of the essence in the performance of this work.
Standard Assumptions :
Our prices are firm for acceptance for a period of 30 days only. Necessary and reasonable access “to,” “from,” and “at” work site during construction. Golf & range activities may require alteration during construction to provide a safe working environment for our employees and equipment.
Mobilization costs included in the proposal are based on one move on off. Any cessation of work due to lack of permits or any reason by the client will require a $3,500 re-mobilization charge with all work and materials invoiced to date. If, during the performance of this contract, the price of contractor’s materials increases more than 10%, the price of said materials shall be equitably adjusted by the owner to account for said increase.
ATTACHMENT A
Mr. LaBarge August 3, 2026
Left Range Net Replacement & #14 Improvements
2 Standard Exclusions :
We are a non-union company and, as such, will not become signatory to any labor agreement (PLA, MLA, CBA). This proposal does not include any bonding, engineering, permit fees or related costs involved in securing permits except as noted in this proposal. If Judge Netting is not contracted to pull permits, the client is responsible for acquiring all permits and any costs relating to permit requirements. Should a government agency require changes, additional construction costs will be assumed by the client. Should the project be stopped for lack of permits or for any reason by a client or government agencies, material and work will be invoiced, and a remobilization fee shall apply. Tree trimming, stump grinding, grubbing, site clearing, or foundation removal. Temporary turf protection of any kind for range except over fairway to get to hole #14 Cable & hardware replacement.
Indemnification: Judge Netting, Inc. will not indemnify any additional Owners, Architects, Contractors, or Agents. Accidental non-negligent damage to driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, irrigation systems, or sod, that may be caused by our equipment.
Subsurface or latent physical conditions at the site differing from those indicated. Unknown physical conditions at the site of any unusual nature, different materially from those ordinarily encountered and generally recognized as inherent in work of the character provided for in the contract. The owner shall promptly investigate the conditions, and if it finds that conditions do materially so differ, or do involve hazardous waste, and cause a decrease or increase in the Contractor’s cost of, or the time required for, performance of any part of the work shall issue a Change Order in the amount of contractor’s expenses incurred plus 10%. Judge Netting makes no warranty, either expressly or implied, as to the protective capabilities of netting or structures, including height requirements and/or performance of any existing material or material used during construction.
Judge Netting's liability under this contract shall not exceed the price identified above.
Cancellation:
Upon execution by both parties, this Proposal and Contract is non-cancellable. Any cancellation by Purchaser shall entitle Judge Netting at its discretion, to collect any fees or charges it has incurred in preparation for delivery of the work outlined above.
We appreciate the opportunity to present this proposal. Please contact us at [email protected] or 714-265-2200 with questions or concerns.
JUDGE NETTING INC. ACCEPTED: RIO HONDO COUNTRY CLUB
By: By:
Authorized Signer Only
Date: August 3, 2026 Date: