This is an approximate transcription of the (video of the) Chris Brown presentation to the Escondido City Council on March 20^th, 2013.  I say “approximate” since I am not a transcribing person, but listened and typed as best I could.  --  Don Davis.

Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, Council. My name is Chris Brown with offices at 402 West Broadway in San Diego, California. I work with the owner of the Escondido Country Club. As you know, the private course will be closing April 1^st.

After months and months of consulting with golf management experts, the owner of the club was faced with no other economically feasible option than to close the course April 1^st. It’s better to close the course and stop the hemorrhaging of $35,000 per month in losses in addition to making massive infrastructure investments that would never be recouped. Unfortunately, we were left with no other option by the previous ownership than the closing of the course April 1.

I’m sure you’re getting emails and phone calls; maybe some of you are being stopped at the market or at church about the closing and the future plans for the course. Let me state- we have no development plans for the course at this time. Our only plans are a community outreach plan and the closing plan. We plan to meet with homeowners, neighbors, former members, and other interested parties about the future options for the development of the course. Our plans will begin with hearing directly from those affected on what they want, need, like and dislike as it relates to development. We believe this is the best way to begin the process of drafting a plan.

We will work with and involve anyone who is interested, and we will meet as often as necessary. In fact, we will be attending a meeting this evening held by some concerned homeowners that you may have been notified about.  We take our community outreach very seriously. I felt it was important that your council hear directly from those involved with the former Escondido Country Club that we will engage the neighbors and interested parties. We will seek community input throughout the process and we will eventually draft up a plan that will be something that the city and the community will like and be proud of in their community.

Thank you. Good evening.