CITY OF SOUTH PASADENA
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE AD HOC CITY
LEASED RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
COMMITTEE
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 06, 2023, AT 6:01 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER:
The Special Joint Meeting of the South Pasadena City Council and the Ad Hoc City Leased Recreational Facilities Committee was called to order by Mayor Primuth on Wednesday, September 06, 2023, at 6:05 P.M. in the Amedee O. "Dick" Richards, Jr.
Council Chambers, located at 1424 Mission Street, South Pasadena, California.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT Mayor Jon Primuth
Councilmember Janet Braun
Councilmember Michael A. Cacciotti
Councilmember Jack Donovan
Commissioner Michael Siegal
Commissioner Victoria Rocha
Commissioner Albert Ocon
ABSENT Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn G. Zneimer
Commissioner Rona Bortz
Commissioner Fred Findley
Mark Perez, Deputy City Clerk, announced a quorum.
CITY STAFF PRESENT:
Arminé Chaparyan, City Manager; Roxanne Diaz, City Attorney; Tiara Solorzano, Management Assistant; Mark Perez, Deputy City Clerk were present at Roll Call. Other staff members presented reports or responded to questions as indicated in the minutes.
Special Joint Meeting Minutes September 06, 2023
Without objection Mayor requested to take staff presentation prior to Public Comment.
PUBLIC COMMENT
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
In-Person Public Comment:
The following individuals spoke regarding the Arroyo Seco Golf Course:
Jama Meyer
Sheila Ballesteros, president of SP Women's Golf Club.
• Sue Shearer
• Brook Collins
• Robert Flores
Ed Simpson
Bee Simpson
• Greg Yu
• Thomas R
• Gail Malton
Mark Haines
Brian Samuels
• Eric Dunlap
Richard Lam
Sam Burgess spoke regarding the Arroyo Seco Golf Course and the horse trail.
Zoom Public Comments:
The following individuals spoke regarding the Arroyo Seco Golf Course:
• Brian Welsh
• Steven Lawrence
ACTION/DISCUSSION
2. RECEIVE AND FILE THE "ARROYO SECO GOLF COURSE MARKET SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS REPORT", DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION, - ANY, ON THE NEXT STEPS RELATED TO THE REPORT'
ECOMMENDATIONS AND CONSIDER THE DISSOLUTION OF THE CITY
LEASED RECREATIONAL FACILITY AD HOC COMMITTEE
South Pasadena City Council and Ad Hoc Facilities Committee Page 2 Special Joint Meeting Minutes September 06, 2023
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Receive and file the "Arroyo Seco Golf Course Market Support and Financial Analysis Report" (Report);
2. Discuss and provide direction to staff regarding next steps, including development of a Master Plan for the Arroyo Seco Golf Course property; and
3. Consider the dissolution of the City Leased Recreational Facility Ad Hoc Committee.
Sheila Pautsch, Community Services Director gave a presentation. Jean Krikorian, Dave Sams and staff responded to questions raised by the City Council.
COUNCIL ACTION AND MOTION
Councilmember Braun expressed support of an RFP for the master study. She opined that the Golf Course would need to be assessed with the restaurant and restrooms as a whole. She is in support of the item being further studied and suggested looking into "Top Golf"'.
Councilmember Donovan stated that he and Councilmember Cacciotti were liaisons working on this Ad Hoc Committee in the initial stages of this project and emphasized the past neglect of the site that they observed. He highlighted the progress made in the past two years and asked to look at the entire picture proposed by ProForma.
Councilmember Cacciotti expressed his agreement with most of the sentiments stated by the public. He went on to emphasize that he would never let anything be developed in the Golf Course. He thanked the committee and staff for the research and time they've taken to look into the issue, such as visiting local golf courses throughout the area and speaking to their management and attendees. He highlighted how the golf course is the only green 18-hole golf course that is maintained by all electric mowers powered by recycled Tesla batteries in the world for the last three years.
Councilmember Cacciotti proposed that the City Council receive and file the report and gave direction to improve the driving range, maintain the golf course, look at miniature golf whether that be "Pop Stroke" or something else, provide improvements to the bathrooms and clubhouse. All of this should be done while keeping the essence of the Arroyo Seco. He is in support of keeping the 18-hole course but directed that improvements be made. He expressed his opposition of the dissolution of the Ad Hoc City Leased Recreational Facilities Committee.
Mayor Primuth gave direction to remove the conversion of the 18-hole golf course to a 9-hole golf course as an option. He emphasized that the City can grow with the 18-hole course and make it a great experience for all with a Par South Pasadena City Council and Ad Hoc Facilities Committee Page 3 Special Joint Meeting Minutes September 06, 2023
3 experience while maintaining the historical aspect. There are ways to reuse this facility and customize it with a nice food and drink venue that looks like South Pasadena. He recommends we keep the driving range with technology and mini golf to keep incoming revenue. Mayor Primuth requested to dissolve the Ad Hoc Committee and have the council reform the committee.
Councilmember Cacciotti agrees with reforming the committee if dissolved today.
Councilmember Braun believes Top Tracer component is very attractive to the current golfer and believes that is where the revenue will come from.
Councilmember Cacciotti stated that he would like to keep some bays with no technology.
City Manager Chaparyan stated the goal for tonight was to present the analysis and council provide direction to pursue a Request for Proposals (RFP) and the components of the RFP such as community engagement. The City Manager stated that the existing Ad Hoc Committee would be dissolved and staff would come back to the Council with a reimagined ad hoc committee with a different role as the City proceeds with the RFP process. Staff would then have that conversation with the Council as to what they are looking for in terms of a new ad hoc committee. There was no City Council objection to the dissolution of the existing ad hoc committee.
Councilmember Cacciotti agreed with the City Manager but wants to ensure the committee is not forgotten and suggested month to month renting of facility for restaurant as soon as possible. He suggested ideas of currently having a canopy at the range.
Mayor Primuth suggested the City Council fast track the implementation, so no opportunities are missed. The priority is the restaurant.
Councilmember Braun agrees with the City Manager that we should have a short-term use of the restaurant while still going forward with an RFP.
City Manager Chaparyan stated that we can do something short-term for the restaurant and assured Cacciotti that this is a high priority.
Direction was provided to the City Manager.
South Pasadena City Council and Ad Hoc Facilities Committee Page 4 Special Joint Meeting Minutes September 06, 2023
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further matters, Mayor Primuth adjourned the Special Joint Meeting of the City Council and the Ad Hoc City Leased Recreational Facilities Committee at 7:58 Respectfully submitted:
Mark Perez
Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED:
Mayor
ATTEST:
Papay
Mark Perez
Deputy City Clerk
Approved at City Council Meeting: September 27, 2023
South Pasadena City Council and Ad Hoc Facilities Committee Page 5