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10-27-1988 Country Club Workshop MeetingMIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNTRY CLUB WORKSHOP THURSDAY OCTOBER 27, 1988 The Country Club Workshop of the Miami Shores Council was held on Thursday, October 27, 1988 at the Miami Shores Country Club with the following members present: Mayor Spero Canton Stephen Loffredo Robert S. Butler, Jr. Karen Kirby Marty Stoflk Also present: Elly F. Johnson Gall Macdonald Mitchell Klug The meeting was called to order at 7:38. Mr. Loffredo suggested the Council get a report from the Country Club Manager as a way to find out the current situation at the Club. Mr. Klug asked for a clarification as to the objectives of the Council for the Country Club Workshop. Ms. Stoflk stated that the Council was looking at the finances, philosophy, and direction of the Club. Mr. Klug stated there Is a problem with procedures and lack of cooperation with the Council. He went on to say the Club cannot be successful If the Council Is fighting him at every turn. Mr. Loffredo stated he was not fighting Mr. Klug and he understands what he Is trying to do. Mr. Johnson stated that the tennis area Is not running as smoothly as possible and Improvement is necessary. He went on to say that the tennis area is not bringing in enough revenue to pay for Itself. Mr. Johnson stated that it was his Job to enforce the ordinance which limits the number of times a guest can play to once a month. Ms. Kirby stated that the tennis area is not the only area that Is having a problem with the once a month rule. She said the bridge ladles are abusing the rule every week. Ms. Kirby stated that she supports the once a month rule wholeheartedly. She went on to say that if the rule was enforced for golf then it should be enforced for the whole Club. Mayor Canton stated that any time a change is made In enforcement of a rule there Is going to be resistance. Mr. Johnson stated people have called him to say that it Is about time the rules are being enforced. Ms. Stoflk stated that business people should be able to bring guests to lunch more than once a month. Ms. Stoflk stated there is no comprehensive plan for the Country Club. She said the Club takes a new direction every time there Is a new manager. Ms. Kirby stated there should be a committee to look at alternative ways the Club should be run. Mayor Canton stated that some of the ups and downs are a result of the Club being a political football, and the many changes in management the Club has experienced. Dr. Butler stated that the Club Manager and the Village Manager should enforce alt of the policies of the Club. He stated that he was leery of setting up a special board for the Club. He went on to say that responsibility should Ile directly with the Council. Mr. Johnson suggested that Mr. Klug, the Village Manager and his staff work on a comprehensive plan that the Council can review. He stated that he was concerned with the flnances of the Club and that there are alot of things that need to be done In the future. Mr. Loffredo stated the Council should give Mr. Klug and the Village Manager a chance to work up a draft plan. He went on to say that the Council should find a record of what's been done In the past to see what has worked and what failed and why. Ms. Stoflk Is concerned that the Village Manager and the Club Manager Is made aware of the Council's plans for the Club. She also stated that she Is concerned that members who want to do things for the Club are doing so without any direction or coordination. Ms. Stoflk continued saying the Council needs a plan so that every time the Club gets a new manager there will not be a rush of capital Improvements that may not be necessary. Dr. Butler stated that he supports having the Village Manager and the Club Manager develop a rough draft of a comprehensive plan. He said he was leery of looking back to see what worked and what didn't because demographics have changed. He stated the Council should not look back more than 5 to 7 years. Ms. Kirby stated that If the Club was going to be a members only club then the Club had to provide more activities for the members. Ms. Stoflk stated that the plan should Include the types of programs that the Club will put on each year. Mr. Johnson stated it will Include language pertaining to the operation and the philosophy of the Club. Mr. Loffredo stated that the Club has never looked better than it does now. He said the Club has come a long way, but that he Is concerned that revenue and expenses must be kept even so that there Is no backlash from the residents who might want to change the Club from what it is now. Mr. Johnson stated that he agrees with Mr. Klug that the Club should be a member only club, but that the catering Is still Important In order to survive. He stated that he agrees with Ms. Stoflk that the Club needs a master plan to show what is needed and how it will be paid for. Mayor Canton stated that things that didn't work in the past may now work because the Club has a different membership and they may accept things the members didn't accept In the past. He said that service Is the key. He went on to say that what the Club Is selling Is service and that management cannot make everybody happy all the time. Mayor Canton said that the Club is one of the biggest attributes the Village has Ms. Kirby stated that the biggest problem with the Club's service Is that lunch Is very slow, and that service is most Important. She said there has never been a real meeting with the membership, and if a rule Is going to start being enforced It should be advertised In the newsletter. Mr. Johnson stated that the Council can't compare the running of the Miami Shores Club with any other Club because our Club Is owned by a municipality and Is governed by different rules. He said that service at lunch has been speeded up and that notification for any up coming events or changes will be posted on the bulletin board at the Club and at Village Hall. He also said that the Club newsletter is being expanded. Ms. Stofik stated that without a comprehensive plan if the Club has a change In management we will have to start over. She said that the Council should look at the past to see what has worked and what hasn't, but that she understands things do change. Mr. Johnson stated that the Club Is trying things to see If they will work. He gave the example of breakfast. Ms. Stofik stated that some things that have been tried in the past failed because the Club Manager didn't believe the events would be successful. Mayor Canton stated that It would make a difference if the Club was run by a management company. He said It was a home town Village run establishment. Dr. Taylor a 10 year member of the Club stated that he had three Items to discuss. First: He Is at the meeting to represent the Tennis Members and they feel that enforcing the once a month rule Is a disaster. He said tennis players need to play people at their own level and the membership Is not large enough to always find such a person. Second: The Tennis Members would 1Ike to be represented In the budget process. Third: He expressed a concern with the way things are going on in general around the Club. Mayor Canton stated again that every time there Is a change some people will be unhappy. He went on to say the once a month rule Is being enforced to make new members of the guests who have been using the Club's facilities but not paying membership fees. Ms. Stofik stated if the membership has something to say to the Council they can be placed on the agenda or can speak during the time provided for public comments at the Council meetings. The meeting was adjourned at 9:27. ATTEST: Elly -F ). Johnson BY: Scott W. Davis Deputy Village Clerk