The closed door decision to shut down the restaurant at the municipally owned Cedar Hill golf course was made despite a recommendation from staff to give the facility another chance.

According to documents obtained through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, SaanichB次元官网网址檚 mayor and councillors chose an option that was more severe than what their staff suggested.

A joint report from the directors of finance and parks and recreation recommended the restaurant remain open, but only at peak times (in the summer and around Christmas).

B次元官网网址淪hould this approach not prove successful, the next step would be to close the restaurant operation entirely,B次元官网网址� read the report, dated Dec. 5, 2011. Keeping the restaurant open in this manner B次元官网网址渨ill determine if the food and beverage operation is economically viable in this location.B次元官网网址�

The report first went before council at an in-camera meeting on Dec. 12.

On Jan. 9, 2012, also in-camera, council voted to close the restaurant.

Three other options were presented to council in the report. Each focused on how much Saanich would have to subsidize the course, and each was accompanied by a list of pros and cons for the municipality.

Maintaining the status quo, the report said, would require an $819,000 subsidy in 2012 and would result in either a 0.9-per-cent property tax increase, or a 1.5-per-cent budget reduction for all municipal departments. A partial subsidy of $482,000 would need to be funded by either a 0.5-per-cent tax increase, or a 1-per-cent budget reduction. An outright outsourcing of the golf course and food service would require no subsidy, but could have negative impacts on the golfers and community.

B次元官网网址淎dding the financial burden of budgeting for an annual golf subsidy B次元官网网址� will increase the difficulty of achieving a reasonable property tax lift in 2012 and shift away from the council mandate for the (golf course) to be self sufficient,B次元官网网址� the report reads.

Coun. Vicki Sanders said a very tight budget was the reason the more drastic decision was made to close the restaurant.

B次元官网网址淭he decisions were based on what we heard during the election B次元官网网址� they want their council to be fiscally responsible,B次元官网网址� she said.

The changes decided on B次元官网网址� closing the restaurant, and not increasing taxes B次元官网网址� struck B次元官网网址渁 balanceB次元官网网址� between financial prudency and maintaining municipal services, Sanders added.

Coun. Susan Brice agreed. B次元官网网址淚 think all of us came to the decision that it would not be supported by the public to continue subsidizing the food service aspect of the operation,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淔ood service is an area that we didnB次元官网网址檛 feel would be an essential component to the success of the golf course.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址 attempted to ask all members of council why they voted to close the restaurant when staffB次元官网网址檚 advice was to keep it open.

Councillors Dean Murdock and Judy Brownoff said it was part of an overall need to restructure food service at the golf course.

Councillors Nichola Wade and Paul Gerrard said the decision was made too long ago for them to remember why it happened.

Coun. Vic Derman didnB次元官网网址檛 want to talk about an in-camera decision without consulting first with the municipal solicitor.

Coun. Leif Wergeland did not return requests for comment.

And Mayor Frank Leonard said: B次元官网网址淣o comment.B次元官网网址�

Doug Henderson, director of parks and rec, said no matter the option council chose, B次元官网网址渟ome pretty substantial changesB次元官网网址� were going to come.

B次元官网网址淔or a variety of reasons, (council) landed on one particular approach, and thatB次元官网网址檚 the way we went,B次元官网网址� added Paul Murray, director of finance, noting that a variety of options was presented.

The restaurant closed on Feb. 17, and now sits unused most of the time.

What that space will be used for remains unknown for now, but Henderson said itB次元官网网址檚 a topic that will be considered publicly.

Even with the restaurantB次元官网网址檚 closure, the golf course is expected to face a $720,000 deficit in 2012. To help offset part of that, the cost to play a round goes up as of Sunday (April 1).

Earlier this year council voted 5-4 to support a plan that will see the cost of an annual pass rise $37 to $1,087 for a restricted pass. A full pass is going up $68 to $1,418. Green fees will jump $5, to $45 on the weekends and $40 on weekdays.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think anybodyB次元官网网址檚 expecting a 180-degree turnaround (this year),B次元官网网址� Henderson said, acknowledging that the changes will likely keep some people away. B次元官网网址淚 think we still provide one of the best value opportunities for folks, in terms of golf. ItB次元官网网址檒l just take a bit of time to build (the business).B次元官网网址�

kslavin@saanichnews.com