Some Thoughts In Regards to 'Saving' Chamisa Hills Country Club

As a City Councilor and long-time resident of District 4, I have been concerned for some time about the Chamisa Hills Golf & Country Club, its conditions, its impact on adjacent residents, and its long-term future. In fact, as a City Councilor, I scheduled a meeting with city staff just three days after taking office in April 2012 to discuss issues associated with Chamisa Hills.

At a recent meeting that I attended with the Willow Trace Homeowners Association on March 26, 2013, representatives (general manager/son-in-law Ray Duran) of the Chamisa Hills Country Club stated that they would be improving the facilities and grounds and moving forward with marketing plans to entice new club members.

On Sunday, April 7, 2013, I learned that the Chamisa Hills Country Club owners had scheduled an online auction for the property on May 29, 2013. Upon learning this, I scheduled a meeting for the morning of April 8, 2013, with the acting city manager and other city staff to discuss possible consequences and outcomes of the auction. During the meeting, an appraisal of the facility commissioned by the city and provided in April 2011, was reviewed in relation to estimates on needed infrastructure improvements, refurbishments, and operating costs.

As a City Councilor, I recognize that Chamisa Hills is a private business operating on private property, and respect the owner’s right to sell or operate their business in the manner they see fit.

IF the City of Rio Rancho were to purchase the private entity of the Chamisa Hills Golf and Country Club and operate it as a public, municipal facility, it would be a policy decision made by the Governing Body. Such factors that would have to be considered include, but are not limited to, identifying funding sources for such costs as the initial purchase price, capital improvements to the facility, and on-going operational costs such as staffing, maintenance, etc.

As of this writing, there are no plans for the City of Rio Rancho to purchase the Chamisa Hills Golf and Country Club.

SOME ADDITIONAL POINTS OF INFORMATION TO KEEP IN MIND:

-The original zoning of Chamisa Hills is listed as special use with no distinction.

-In 2011, the city commissioned a market analysis and appraisal of Chamisa Hills. The report recommended $3.42 million in improvements to the facility (grounds cleanup, new irrigation system, completion of cart paths, resurfacing of the tennis courts, and equipment purchases).

-The 2011 report also estimated total expenses to operate the facility annually are $1.3 million. However, this assumed a number of variables including $0.47 per 1,000 gallons recycled/reclaimed water rate. Chamisa’s recycled rate will change in June 2014 to 60% of the potable irrigation rate ($3.28 per 1,000 gallons) and by FY 2017 it will be 70% of the potable irrigation rate ($4.54 per 1,000 gallons). What this means is based on current use, annually, Chamisa HIlls pays $141,998 for just recycled/reclaimed water. Using the same amount of water annually, the cost would be $1,370,438 in FY 2017.

-On Friday, April 5, 2013, a $109,650.03 lien was placed on the Chamisa Hills property by the City of Rio Rancho for non-payment of potable and recycled/reclaimed water bills by the property owners.

-It is estimated that if every resident that has property bordering what comprises the Chamisa Hills property became a full member of the club, Chamisa would generate an estimated $3.5 million annually. With this kind of membership, sustainability for Chamisa Hills is within reach.

With these points in mind, who or what will carry this financial burden and perhaps even more importantly, how committed are the residents whose properties flank the golf course are in regards to saving the Chamisa Hills Country Club?

SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS (as an addendum to the original post):
Today 4-10-13
My understanding is that the Golf Course /Country Club had 1000 Members when our city was only 40,000 people. Half of what it is now. So, how did so many members leave, how has the lack of marketing effected the numbers, and how does the current condition of the entire property present to prospective members.