LTC 111-2005 Closing of the Normandy Shores Golf Course
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. 111-2005
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Subject:
Closing of the Norm dy Shores Golf Course
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Date: April 29, 2Op5~
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To:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
From:
Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
Please be advised that the Normandy Shores Golf Course will be closing effective May 2,
2005. This closure is in anticipation of the capital improvement project(s) planned for the
neighborhood in the near future. This coincides with the expiration of the current lease
agreement between the City of Miami Beach and Professional Course Management
(PCM), the golf course management company who has leased the course from the City
since October of 2001.
On November 25, 2003, the Mayor and City Commission approved the first amendment to
the Interim Management Agreement with Professional Course Management II, Ltd., (PCM)
extending the term of the agreement for provision of the professional services for the
management and operation of the City's Normandy Shores from September 30, 2003, to
April 30, 2004. The amendment was initiated based on the Administration's plan that the
Normandy Shores Golf Course would be closed for construction renovations in the late
spring of 2004. As the term of this amended agreement concluded on April 30, 2004. and
there were issues related to the final scope of improvements for the Normandy Shores Golf
Course and clubhouse still under discussion the administration of Professional Course
Management offered to extend the term through April 30, 2005. under the existing
agreement terms and conditions. This offer was accepted and approved by the City
Commission in March of 2004.
At the time the extension was entered into PCM also offered an alternative to this
amendment where by PCM would manage the Normandy Golf Course for the City under a
similar agreement to that used at the Miami Beach Golf Club (MBGC). In the MBGC
agreement the City pays a management fee and all revenue and expense is assumed by
the City. As summer play is very low, this arrangement would result in a net and
unbudgeted loss to the City which is why PCM is not willing to continue to operate under
the existing terms. Based on 2004 data, the estimated loss would be approximately
$200,000.00. The MBGC can easily absorb the rounds of golf play in its summer
operations as its summer play is also reduced from the main season. Typical summer
volume at the Normandy course averages approximately 1,800 rounds per month.
The initial project work to be done on the golf course is a component of the neighborhood
drainage program which will utilize sections ofthe golf course swale as retention. The new
drainage program will require the golf course to contain and retain any watershed
generated on it. This will necessitate the construction of berms and retention swales on the
the golf course edge(s) in specific areas. It is anticipated this work will begin in October
2005 and be completed by March 2006. In the meantime, the golf course construction
documents, which are being completed by the design team, would be processed for permit
through the City's Building Department and the required regulatory agencies. Once an
internal review of the construction documents is completed, an Invitation To Bid (ITB)
package would be prepared to implement the construction of the Project. It is anticipated
that the permitting process would be complete by the time the ITB package is advertised, in
late August 2005. The construction would commence in October 2005. The construction
of the improvements is scheduled to take 18 months, with the opening to the public
scheduled for May 2007.
In reference to the clubhouse, the Administration is negotiating a contract through its Job
Order Contracting (JOC) program for a design-build project. Construction documents need
to be developed and processed for permit before construction begins. The construction is
scheduled to be coordinated with the golf course Project and be completed by the same
time.
The improvements currently planned are very similar to those made at the Miami Beach
Golf Club. These include the complete renovation of the golf course with new tees,
fairways, greens, cart paths, irrigation and select landscaping. The golf turf will be the
same as that used at the Miami Beach Golf Club which is paspalum. This will course is
also planned to have the irrigation system capable of using salt or fresh water or a blend of
both to water the sod. This has proven highly successful at the Miami Beach Golf Club
because the playing surface is among the best in all of the southern United States.
In the interim between the closure ofthe golf course and the initiation of construction PCM
has agreed to maintain a single staff member on the property to cut the grass on the
course to a height similar to other parks (all one length including tees and greens and not
to the specifications of a golf course).
We will keep you apprised ofthe projects progress and should you have questions, please
:L
c: Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Kevin Smith, Parks & Recreation Director
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