City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Committee

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** BEL-CON-PRC-2026-01-26 A structured study guide helping readers understand the meeting's content and context. ### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council Parks and Recreation Committee met on January 26, 2026, to consider a resolution establishing fees for the Lake Padden Golf Course. The committee approved a 5% green fee increase for 2026, exceeding the typical 3% annual limit due to rising operating costs. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Green Fees:** The cost golfers pay to play a round of golf at the course. At Lake Padden, this was proposed to increase from approximately $42 to $48 for 18 holes (including the $6 water conservation charge). **Water Conservation Capital Reinvestment Surcharge:** A $6 fee added to each round of golf since July 2023 to fund major capital improvements, particularly irrigation system replacement. This fee generates about $100,000 annually. **Premier Golf Management:** The private company (formerly Troon) that operates Lake Padden Golf Course under contract with the city. They handle day-to-day operations while the city maintains ownership. **Enterprise Fund:** A city budget mechanism where the golf course operates like a business, with revenues expected to cover operating expenses rather than relying on general city funds. **Trackman Technology:** New driving range technology being installed that tracks golf ball flight and allows virtual golf games. Lake Padden will be the only course in Whatcom County with this technology. **Core Four:** The four salaried employees at the golf course - general manager, superintendent, mechanic, and food & beverage director - whose wages are subject to state-mandated salary increases. **Management Fee:** The annual fee (approximately $185,000) paid to Premier Golf for operating the course, including base management costs plus performance incentives. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Edwin H. "Skip" Williams | Committee Chair, Bellingham City Council Fourth Ward | | Daniel Hammill | Committee Member, Bellingham City Council Third Ward | | Jace Cotton | Committee Member, Bellingham City Council At-Large | | Nicole Oliver | Parks and Recreation Director, City of Bellingham | | Steven Janiszewski | Park Operations Manager, City of Bellingham | | Michael Fosnick | Director of Operations, Premier Golf Management | ### Background Context Lake Padden Golf Course has been a municipal golf facility serving Bellingham and Whatcom County for decades. Since 2018, the city has contracted with Premier Golf (formerly Troon) to manage daily operations while maintaining public ownership. The course has seen remarkable success, with revenue growing from approximately $1.4 million in 2020 to over $2.4 million in 2025. However, this success comes with challenges. State-mandated wage increases, particularly for salaried employees, have outpaced the course's ability to keep up with traditional 3% annual fee increases. The course's irrigation system is also nearing the end of its useful life, requiring significant capital investment. The golf course operates as an enterprise fund, meaning it must generate enough revenue to cover all operating costs and ideally fund its own capital improvements. The proposed 5% increase reflects the reality of inflation, utility rate increases, and mandated wage adjustments that have pushed operating costs higher than anticipated. Despite the increase, Lake Padden will remain the lowest-cost 18-hole golf option in Whatcom County. ### What Happened — The Short Version Committee Chair Williams opened the meeting by explaining that Parks and Recreation was requesting a 5% green fee increase instead of the usual 3% maximum. This increase would generate an estimated additional $100,000 per year in revenue. Park Operations Manager Steve Janiszewski presented the budget overview, showing that the golf course has two separate budgets - Premier's operating expenses of $1.6+ million and the city's portion covering utilities, capital maintenance, and inventory. He highlighted the course's revenue success, growing by $1 million since 2020. Premier's Michael Fosnick then explained why the larger increase was necessary. State-mandated salary increases for the "core four" salaried employees jumped dramatically - from $57,000 to $67,000 to $80,000 in recent years. These wage increases were outpacing the course's ability to keep up with 3% annual fee increases. Fosnick also presented exciting new developments: Trackman driving range technology that will be unique in Whatcom County, plus plans to better integrate the facility with Lake Padden Park users, especially mountain bikers. Committee members asked questions about user demographics (83% from Whatcom/Skagit counties), disc golf integration, and funding sources for eventual irrigation system replacement. After discussion, Council Member Hammill moved to approve the fee increase, and the motion passed 3-0. ### What to Watch Next • The full City Council will consider this resolution at their regular meeting, likely the same evening • Implementation of the new Trackman driving range technology and its impact on usage and revenue • Future discussions about funding the irrigation system replacement, which is the golf course's highest capital priority ---