Racket over interim leadership of Costa Mesa Tennis Center nets concessions from council
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An attempt to locate an interim operator for the Costa Mesa Tennis Center — facing a vacancy following the retirement of its beloved leader after 24 years — netted harsh responses from some who faulted the city for overlooking local options.
The City Council on Tuesday approved a temporary agreement with Top Seed Tennis Academy, which operates facilities in Calabasas and Valencia, to run the center while city staff prepares a request for proposals for a permanent operator.
The move comes after longtime leader Hank Lloyd, and his wife Maureen, announced late last year their plans to retire from the center, a 12-court facility near the city’s TeWinkle Park that proffers 10% of gross revenue from court use and 5% of pro-shop sales and concessions, according to a series of lease agreements that date back to 1998.
Parks and Community Services Director Jason Minter said Tuesday the city originally planned to run the center with department staff until a new operator could be located through advertising for proposals.
But when patrons of the center learned staff could not maintain full operating hours, they complained to city officials, who considered their alternatives and were told by some at the center about Top Seed and its president, Steve McAvoy.
“We found Top Seed Tennis Academy would provide enough financial backing and experience to be able to come forward and do this on a very short-term basis,” Minter said.
A temporary agreement was drafted for a period of four months, with the option to extend the lease twice for two-month terms and the same revenue share.
News of the interim agreement reached other operators, including local companies that had expressed an interest in bidding through the RFP process, who expressed disappointment Tuesday in what they called an unfair process.
“Our organization and others were not given the same opportunity [as Top Seed],” said Amy Pazahanick, owner of Agape Tennis Academy, which manages tennis centers in Fountain Valley and Oxnard. “Voting for another private organization to manage the Tennis Center in the interim clearly gives this organization an unfair advantage in the bidding process.”
Eduardo Reyes, a longtime Costa Mesa Tennis Center instructor, said he was willing to assume temporary leadership of the facility and was surprised to learn the city was making arrangements with Top Seed.
“(Now), I think Steve is the best option for us to continue growing,” Reyes told the council. “I’m behind it if the community is behind it.”
McAvoy explained he was recently contacted about filling in. He said doing so would hardly be a windfall, anticipating Top Seed would likely break even, at best. Still, he said his company will bid for the permanent lease when it becomes available.
Council members agreed the city, acting in haste to find an option that would allow the center to remain open for the same hours, may not have acted with total transparency. Officials promised to involve community members more deeply in the RFP process.
Lloyd, who has run the center for the last 24 years, said he is retiring at the end of February to spend more time with family.
The parks department will host two community forums at the center, located at 880 Junipero Drive on March 12 at 10 a.m. and on March 16 at 5:30 p.m. to gather input on new visions for the facility and its interface with park lands.
Officials also agreed to bring the RFP document back to the council before submitting it to the bidding public, intimating that could happen in early April.
“We want to hear from you,” said Mayor John Stephens. “Keep our feet to the fire, and we’re eventually going to get a good RFP out and pick the very best and most qualified person to lead this Tennis Center into the future.”
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