LTC 114-2002
f. . 1
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. IlL{'" aDO ~
m
From:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. GOnzalezQ ~ /'
City Manager ~
BAYSHORE GO F COURSE WALKING PATH
Date: May 2. 2002
To:
Subject:
As requested by the City Commission, I have directed staff to consider the feasibility of
creating a pedestrian walkway around the perimeter of the Bayshore Golf Course. Staff
has advised that discussions have taken place with representatives of Arthur Hills, the Golf
Course designer, on this issue. Staff last met with Arthur Hills on Wednesday, March 20,
2002 to continue this discussion.
The designer has verbally expressed reservations to the idea of a pedestrian walkway
around the entire golf course perimeter on the basis that it may create an unsafe condition.
Staff has previously requested the designer to explore possibilities for a perimeter walkway
and/or a partial walkway in areas where it may be safe for pedestrian traffic. Staff also
requested that the designer provide its recommendations in writing once this process is
complete. Attached is the designer's written recommendation indicating their reservations
to any pedestrian walkway for safety reasons. These reservations based on safety are
also shared by URS. the City's Program Manager for the project. and CIP staff.
Essentially, the golf course is a contained site in the sense that there is relatively little
space around the fairways to safely allow pedestrian traffic. In considering the issue,
several locations were examined. Regardless of where a potential pathway is located. it is
within a zone that will place pedestrians, potential joggers, bicycle riders, etc., in an area
that is open to errant golf balls. There is insufficient space on the golf course to place a
pedestrian path without putting anyone using the path in danger of being hit by golf balls.
In addition to the reservations provided by the designer based on safety, there are also
operational issues that must be considered. The City has made the decision to invest $1 0
million in the renovation of the Bayshore Golf Course into a championship facility. The City
has hired a premier golf course management firm, Professional Course Management
("PCM"), to manage the facility and to keep it properly maintained. Projected greens fees
during season are expected to be in the range of $120 to $150 per round for the visiting
tourist. At these rates, which are necessary in order to fund the debt service for the
improvements. and given that this will be a high-end golf course, it would be customary to
limit public access to the golf course as an expectation of the client.
It should also be noted that prior to the City making the commitment to proceed with the
comprehensive redesign and reconstruction of the Bayshore Golf Course, a consultant was
retained by the City to complete an analysis of our golf courses and develop future
Letter to Commission
May 1, 2002
Page 2
alternatives and evaluate the future market and financial potential of the options. The
selected firm, ERA (Economics Research Associates) completed the analysis including a
review of the use of Bayshore Golf Course by the non-golfing public and the impact this
activity has had and will continue to have if permitted.
Specifically, the analysis noted,
"Most homes are set back far enough to not intrude on play. However, at
present, there is no fence or other barrier to prevent local area residents
from using the golf course for other purposes, such as biking, walking, and
playing catch. Use by non-golfers is reportedly a very serious issue, with
golfers regularly being forced to play through or around other non-permitted
activities. If Bayshore is extensively renovated and repositioned to serve a
more upscale market niche, it will be absolutely critical to rectify this problem
by erecting a fence or other barrier to effectively limit trespassing".
This finding was noted in several sections of the final analysis and clearly indicated that if
the access to the course by non-golfers is not restricted it will substantially impact the
revenue potential of the golf course and negatively impact the City's ability to cover
operational and debt service related costs.
It should further be noted that, as the golf course will be operated under a management
agreement with PCM the City will be responsible for all costs of operations, including the
payment of insurances that PCM will be required to maintain. The City will pay the cost of
the policy, and any claim made against the insurance as a result of a non-golf related
incident, may result in an increased premium or potentially a cancellation of the policy. In
any case the risk and cost of permitting the non-golfing public on the course is directly the
City's. .
While Bayshore is likely to be problematic for walking path development, there is clearly
value to the community for such a facility. As an alternative, the Commission may wish to
have the administration entertain such a use around the perimeter of the Par 3 golf course.
Such an analysis would fit well within a review of facilities that is anticipated as a
recommendation of the Parks Blue Ribbon Committee.
I intend to provide a presentation to you by staff and our consultants on this issue at a
future date. In the interim, should you have any questions or concerns about this issue,
Pleas~el free to contact Assistant City Manager Robert C. Middaugh, or me.
JM~
c: Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Kevin Smith, Parks & Recreation Director
Tim Hemstreet, Interim CIP Director
F:\CMGR\$ALL\TIMHEMST\memo - Bayshore Golfcourse Walking Path.doc