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Handout 3- Commissioner Stinson 10-10-16 .444 City management's suggestion that a CCTV be installed at the Russell Park tennis courts is not a solution to the problem of public access at the City tennis courts being co-opted by a private business. Mr. Catalan charges for tennis lessons--he is a for-profit business. He has an exclusive lease for 50% of Russell Park's tennis courts (#4, 5, and 6), for$200 yearly. This is not only a ridiculously low fee, but an outrage for Atlantic Beach taxpayers to be subsidizing this for-profit operation at all. Court rental fees for tournaments in this area average $50+ per court daily. I know of no other public tennis facility that has this type of sweetheart arrangement with a tennis pro. Over the past two months, Mr. Catalan has also held at least three large group lessons on Courts #1, 2, and 3—which he doesn't lease. 16 players would pay a professional a total of$160-$240 for a two or three-hour group lesson. Mr. Johnson confirmed to me that Mr. Catalan did not obtain the required City permits nor pay the $225 in fees for Courts#1, 2, and 3. Mr. Johnson also said that he would not collect these fees from Mr. Catalan unless he was told to do so -- the obvious assumption being that he has never collected these fees. At our meeting on September 15, I made mention that I came to play tennis while he was conducting some of these clinics. Mr. Catalan responded that if I would have asked him, he would have allowed me to play on the courts at no charge! Really? It appears that Mr. Catalan has carte blanche to monopolize the public tennis courts with the City's blessing. I recommended that the Recreation Department coordinate the prices, dates/times and specific courts for all tennis professionals to give lessons and post their schedules on the tennis court bulletin board. Tennis professionals would have use, at no charge, of Courts#5 or 6 for individual or small lessons daily, and could lease Courts #3,4,5, and 6 for large group lessons daily from 1- 5pm. Courts # 1 & 2 would always remain open for our citizens. I also suggested that the Recreation Department coordinate league play by posting their schedules on the tennis court bulletin board. Atlantic Beach based non-profit leagues would have use, at no charge, of Courts#3,4,5,6 daily from 1- 5pm -- non-peak use hours. Courts# 1 & 2 would always remain open for our citizens. I have attached a draft of the proposed regulations. I believe the City is on an extremely slippery slope by exclusively leasing our city facilities to a for-profit business. The City is subsidizing a for-profit business to the detriment of its tax-paying citizens. We are setting a precedent that will come back to haunt us. I recommend that the tennis professional contract not be renewed. Thank you, LEAGUE PLAY Atlantic Beach-based non-profit tennis teams may reserve Courts #3, 4, 5, 6 at no charge for league play, Sunday through Saturday, between the hours of 1 :00PM to 5:00PM. Courts #1 and 2 are for public use only -- no league play. Send your reservation request at least 30 days in advance to recreationpcoab.us The Recreation Department will post your reservation on the Court #1 Bulletin Board. TENNIS PROFESSIONALS A tennis professional may give individual or small group lessons at no charge, on one court, either Court #5 or 6. The Russell Park tennis courts are heavily utilized Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 8:00A11/Ito 1 :00PM. During these hours, a tennis professional may use Court #6 only, if available. A tennis professional may reserve Courts #3, 4, 5, 6 only, for large group lessons, for $25 per court, Sunday through Saturday, between 1 :00PM and 5:00PM. Courts #1 and 2 are for public use only -- no lessons. Complete a permit request, along with payment, 14 days in advance at the Recreation Department, 716 Ocean Blvd, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233. The Recreation Department will post your reservation on the Court #1 Bulletin Board.