Los Angeles’ municipal golf courses are a green getaway for golfers. Now they may be a source of a different green — cash for city operations.
A new plan to put city employees in charge of golf cart operation at five city-run courses will contribute to $1,824,133 a year in golf revenue that supports LA parks and playgrounds.
“As a recreation and parks gardener, I’m always held accountable for what happens in the parks. Outside contracting costs more in the long run,” said Andrew Ortiz, a gardener-caretaker at Rio de Los Angeles. “We need to bring it in-house.”
After a pilot project with city employees that saw revenue increase 11% this year, the City of Los Angeles proposed to end an outside contract for electric golf carts at five city-run golf courses. A report found that the contractor had underpaid rent to the city and profited from the work of city employees.
An audit of the current contractor, J.H. Kishi Company, “found that Kishi had a poor internal control environment and underreported revenue resulting in underpayment of rent to
the City. Kishi still receives 53% of the cart rental revenues, despite not having to perform a key function of the contract.”
“We should maintain our own courses, our own equipment,” said Ortiz. “The answer isn’t layoffs and furloughs, but keeping our own people and equipment in the city. We’ve been around 100 years, we’re not new at this. We know what we’re doing.”
City employees will take over the maintenance and rental of golf carts that has been operated privately for 35 years.
Above: Golf cart rentals in Griffith Park and other city-run golf courses will soon be staffed by city employees (photo from LA Times) Golf Carts to Generate Cash for LA City Services
Los Angeles’ municipal golf courses are a green getaway for golfers. Now they may be a source of a different green — cash for city operations.
A new plan to put city employees in charge of golf cart operation at five city-run courses will contribute to $1,824,133 a year in golf revenue that supports LA parks and playgrounds.
“As a recreation and parks gardener, I’m always held accountable for what happens in the parks. Outside contracting costs more in the long run,” said Andrew Ortiz, a gardener-caretaker at Rio de Los Angeles. “We need to bring it in-house.”
After a pilot project with city employees that saw revenue increase 11% this year, the City of Los Angeles proposed to end an outside contract for electric golf carts at five city-run golf courses. A report found that the contractor had underpaid rent to the city and profited from the work of city employees.
An audit of the current contractor, J.H. Kishi Company, “found that Kishi had a poor internal control environment and underreported revenue resulting in underpayment of rent to
the City. Kishi still receives 53% of the cart rental revenues, despite not having to perform a key function of the contract.”
“We should maintain our own courses, our own equipment,” said Ortiz. “The answer isn’t layoffs and furloughs, but keeping our own people and equipment in the city. We’ve been around 100 years, we’re not new at this. We know what we’re doing.”
City employees will take over the maintenance and rental of golf carts that has been operated privately for 35 years.
Above: Golf cart rentals in Griffith Park and other city-run golf courses will soon be staffed by city employees (photo from LA Times)
Categories: LA/OC Cities and Districts | Los Angeles