City officials in Niagara Falls, N.Y., said the release of a request for proposals did not mean privatization was a given, and that if a vendor is ultimately selected, employees would not be eliminated as part of the changeover. Responses to the RFP are due by September 21.
After years of subsidizing operations at the 36-hole Hyde Park Golf Course in Niagara Falls, N.Y., the city is making a public call for private operators, reported the Niagara Gazette.
The Gazette reported that after the release of a request for proposals by the city on August 17th, City Administrator Nick Melson described the move as exploratory in nature, indicating that it should not be viewed as the city making a decision on whether to move forward with privatization.
“We haven’t even decided if we’re going to an operator,” Melson said. “If it makes sense, we’ll go that route. If it doesn’t, we’ll keep doing what we’re doing.”
If a vendor was ultimately selected, Melson added, employees would not be eliminated as part of the changeover, reported the Gazette.
For years, the city has transferred money from its general fund to continue operations at the golf course, the Gazette reported, and privatizing the course has been discussed among lawmakers with varying levels of intensity.
Over the last four years, the Gazette reported, the city has used between $204,300 and $419,400 to help support the course. Earlier this year, the need to subsidize Hyde Park again became a topic of concern among lawmakers, especially because the Niagara Falls City Council has now voted two consecutive years to raise local rates, dismaying many course players.
The documents made public by the city on August 17th called for proposals from independent contractors to provide all of the staffing, equipment, food-and-beverage amenities, marketing, routine maintenance, repairs and associated services at the 36-hole course. In the documents, the city says it will negotiate the use of the existing equipment it already possesses, reported the Gazette.
There are no stipulated hours of operation, but the request asks vendors to provide those that would “necessary to efficiently operate,” subject to the approval of the city administrator, reported the Gazette.
Play rates, including season-pass fees, green fees and rental fees for golf carts, are to be set at the discretion of the selected vendor and included in response to the proposal, reported the Gazette.
The selected vendor will be asked to conduct an annual comprehensive survey of greens fees and rental rates at comparable golf courses in the area and submit potential fee changes to the city less than 60 days before any changes are made, the Gazette reported.
Monthly reports are to be made to the city administrator, discussing purchases, promotional events, inventory, and maintenance conditions, reported the Gazette.
The selected firm would be contracted for three years, with a city option to extend the agreement in the future, reported the Gazette.
Responses to the request for proposals are due by September 21, reported the Gazette.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.