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for the grass to mature, and did not want to be in a situation where the City would realize <br />a major cost in trying to repair the greens. <br /> <br /> Mr. Isaak mentioned there comes a point in making a decision when to open the <br />golf course, which is usually determined by financial pressure and agronomic concerns. <br />When a golf course opens too early, it can take a long time for the greens to recover and <br />get to where it would have been had the greens been allowed sufficient time to grow. He <br />believed it was impractical to grow-in a golf course to the point where everyone is <br />confident that it will survive all of the activities it will bear. Unless extra time is built in <br />to eliminate any doubt, there comes a point where a decision needs to made. The decision <br />will not be the Operator, but it will not be shy about its recommendations. He pointed <br />out that the weather is a big variable. Another big variable is when the last piece of the <br />golf course is completed. If it is in June and all goes well, November would be a <br />reasonable time to open. If it is much later, it will push the opening out on a weekly <br />basis. <br /> <br />Ms. Ayala concurred with Mr. Campbell's comments. <br /> <br /> Mr. Wolfe reminded Council that it has experienced this type of delay before, <br />particularly with Vai Vista Park. The delay for opening the park was outweighed by the <br />additional costs the City would have incurred by opening it too early. The City has had <br />success and the community has seen the long-term value of the facility over the short- <br />term need. <br /> <br /> Ms. McKeehan noted it is clear revenue drives some of the decisions made in <br />terms of trying to set a date and trying to realize revenue in order to make payments. <br />Staff will not allow this to drive the opening of the golf course. <br /> <br /> Mr. Iremonger noted there are compromises, which are called "soft openings." <br />Soft openings allow a gold course to be opened with very limited play and relatively long <br />intervals between T times. <br /> <br /> Besides financial and weather issues, Mayor Pico acknowledged three members <br />of the Council who had been instrumental in getting the golf course built. <br /> <br /> Mr. Campbell asked when the trails in connection with the golf course would be <br />discussed. <br /> <br />Mr. Brozosky asked who maintains the trails. <br /> <br /> Wayne Rasmussen reported that the Specific Plan requires the per/meter trails to <br />be completed at the time golf course opens. Most of the trail goes through the open space <br />portion of the property and not through the actual golf course, which will be maintained <br />by the Parks and Recreation Department. <br /> <br />Mayor Pico declared the public heating open. <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council 22 01/06/04 <br />Minutes <br /> <br /> <br />