EVANSTON — The only item on the agenda for the July 23 city council work session was a discussion led by Evanston City Attorney Mark Harris concerning the Evanston Golf Club’s purchase proposal. The club has offered to purchase the half of the building at the course that contains a bar and restaurant, along with an adjacent piece of land. The club’s attorney, Monica Vozakis, had presented the proposal to the council during a work session on July 9.

“After the last work session, with directions from council, I got together with Monica to review the proposal concerning the sale of the golf course restaurant and bar,” Harris said. “Mr. Mayor, all the issues raised have solutions.”

The problem, Harris said, is the building referred to as the clubhouse is the entire building, and the club only wishes to purchase the part of the building that houses the restaurant and bar; not the pro shop.

There is also a 16-inch city water line that runs under the piece of acreage they want to buy, under the parking lot and into the building. The current memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the golf club states the city is responsible for the parking lot and repair and replacement of water lines, so the contract would need to be modified to reduce the size of the acreage the club wants to buy, so the city would retain the part where the water line runs.

Harris explained there are three options for the city to sell property. One is to hold a public auction, and another is to put it out to public bid. However, he said, if the city sold the property under the Economic Development Act, it would not have to put it up for public auction. If the council decides to sell it under that act, Harris said, it would require three public notices in the newspaper and a public hearing.

“The other issue we did identify is the land is currently zoned for public use,” Harris said. “If that property were sold to the club, we will need to look at the zoning code. They may have to get a conditional use permit and there might be restrictions and conditions in the covenant about common areas. We really need to examine all aspects of a possible sale. These are the only main issues we found.”

Also, Harris said, if the city sells the property to the golf club, then the current MOU would be dissolved and they would have to look at the clause that allows for free storage of 17 members’ carts and the discount for 175 members. The city would have to separate the gas and electricity costs if the city maintains ownership of the pro shop. The parking lot and entryway would remain as common areas.

Since the pro shop would be a separate entity from the other half of the building, the fire marshall would ask that a fire wall be installed and fire proof doors between the areas.

Councilmember Jen Hegeman asked, “What about selling the building in its entirety and the city lease the pro shop from the club for $1 for 100 years and, in return, they would lease the piece of land from the city for $1 for 100 years? Just a switch and it would make the whole thing easier. That would eliminate the division and separation and need for the expense of the fire walls and doors. It just seems so complicated.”

If that were the case, Harris said, the golf club would be responsible for the entire building’s maintenance and they would have to hire a manager for the pro shop. That manager is in charge of overall operation and scheduling for the course and all of the activities associated with the golf course. The city would still be responsible for the maintenance of the golf course itself and water lines on the land.

Evanston Community Development Director Rocco O’Neill said, “The nucleus that came out of the meeting with the golf club is they don’t have the revenue resources to keep up with what they have now let alone hire someone to run the pro shop or to deal with the inventory.”

Mayor Williams said he personally was reluctant to sell the pro shop or relinquish responsibility for the course. He said he sensed the council would like to keep things moving forward and work with the golf club to come to an agreement. Any of the options are achievable, he said, but it will take some time.

Golf club representatives have stated they are in a hurry to come to an agreement due to the HVAC needing to be replaced but, Harris said, if the club bought the property, the obligation for replacing or repairing the HVAC would be the club’s anyway, so there is not a real hurry.

“With your permission, mayor,” Harris said, “I will get with [Vozakis], the planning department, and the city engineer, and together we will look at the options and the legalities involved and bring a plan back to the council.”

Vozakis, who was in attendance, said she was willing to work with Harris. She couldn’t speak for the club but she felt any of the options would be doable and she would have to consult with the club.

Williams agreed with Harris and thanked Vozakis for her willingness to work with the city and he then closed the work session.