A major overhaul could be coming to Huntington Beach’s Meadowlark Golf Course as city officials discuss possibly firing their current operator and upgrading the facility after what they say were years of poor maintenance and late rent. 

“They’re still dragging their feet on paying us money,” said Finance Commissioner David Cicerone, who was on the city’s task force examining the issue, at the commission’s Sept. 24 meeting. “If we can improve the course and address things like drainage and irrigation, dramatically improve the overall clubhouse, the restaurant, the bar in there, then we could be looking at what is the crown jewel of Huntington Beach.”

The debate comes as the city’s lawyers are going back and forth with Arcis Golf, the course’s operator, over whether or not the company owes them nearly $300,000 in late rent payments and fees.  

According to a presentation attached to the commission’s Sept. 24 agenda, city officials notified the golf course operator in July 2024 they’d missed nearly $13,000 in rent payments amid  but they also tacked on a $400,000 late fee for the late rent. 

Arcis’ lawyers disagreed in their response to the city at the time. 

“We do not contest the amount of rent the audit found owing them from the end of the four year term,” wrote Arcis General Counsel Scott Siddons in an Aug. 2024 email. “However we find the $400,970 assessed in late fees to be excessive.” 

Representatives for Arcis Golf did not respond to requests for comment. 

So far, Arcis has paid the city over $119,000 in late fees and rent, but hasn’t agreed to pay the city’s full request. 

Now, finance commissioners are drafting a letter to city council members, asking them to either boot Arcis before the end of their contract in 2028 or bring in a new operator after the current deal expires. 

Cicerone called for the city to stop leasing the facility as soon as possible, giving Arcis 30 days to pay back the money or they’d immediately start looking for a new contractor to take over. 

“I now think it’s appropriate that we do send another letter to the city council … advise them they are in breach of their agreement,” Cicerone said. “It absolutely is in atrocious condition.” 

He also mentioned he’d already spoken with other operators that were “keenly interested,” in getting their hands on Meadowlark as soon as possible. 

But other committee members said the city should wait for the contract to expire in 2028, then look for a new operator.

Commissioner Frank Lo Grasso agreed that the golf course is “a bit neglected,” but raised concerns over what would happen if they tried to kick out Arcis without another operator ready to go. 

Commissioner Paul Geery raised concerns that no matter who gets brought in, they might not measure up. 

“I know all about management companies that manage golf courses and what they commit to before they have a contract and then how they perform after they have a contract,” Geery said. “So, you’re getting the really nice, positive answers now, but once they get in there they’re not much better than Arcis.” 

“It would basically put it in no man’s land.” 

Kelly Gates, the chair of the commission, also brought up how it could be a good time to fix the flooding problems at the course. 

“I don’t golf, but I look at the homes, the people that’re living there … all day long during the winter they hear those loud pumps,” Gates said. “It’s a terrible place to live.”

Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.

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