Golf lawsuit filed against Fairgrounds Golf lawsuit filed against Fairgrounds (May 14, 2004)

Attorney says meeting may have settled differences
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Pleasanton Fairways Inc. and its president Randy Curtola filed a lawsuit last week against the Alameda County Fair Association claiming that the recent bidding process to run the golf operations was manipulated against them. The contracts for running the golf course at the Fairgrounds and the driving range were awarded to Jetter Golf L.L.C. in April.

The suit claims that the board "rigged the process against PFI because, among other reasons, of a preexisting antipathy and bias against the Curtola Family." It asked that the bidding process be reopened.

Fair Association attorney Steve Siner of Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel said Wednesday that a lengthy meeting was held Friday and a tentative settlement was reached. The meeting included attorneys for both sides, as well as Curtola and Fairgrounds CEO Rick Pickering.

"I think we reached a tentative resolution," said Siner. "We agreed to keep the specifics to ourselves until we have the final document signed by everyone."

The Pleasanton Driving Range did not change hands May 1 as planned by the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Its lease expired May 1 but Curtola verified Tuesday that he is still running the operation. The lease on Pleasanton Fairways expires Aug. 15.

The lawsuit stated that the bid for the contracts from Pleasanton Fairways met the minimum qualifications plus would have generated 50 percent more revenue for the county than other proposals. "All matters being equal, given its experience, reputation in the golf community and in the tri-valley community, its player development and outreach programs and that its proposal was financially more favorable to the County, the PFI proposal was the superior proposal," stated the lawsuit.

The bid from Jetter included $1.1 million in improvements during the next three years, an additional 6-hole short course, two clubhouses, a pro shop and new restrooms. Curtola's lawsuit states that the request for bids did not indicate that capital improvements would be weighed more heavily than revenue, and that the Jetter bid did not guarantee revenue of $150,000 as did Curtola's and which was a requirement.

Roland Curtola, Randy's father, was managing golf operations at Castlewood Country Club in 1972 when the Fairgrounds Association approached him to design, build and operate a golf course in the infield of the racetrack at the Fairgrounds. In 1973, the county entered into a lease with the Curtola family, which was renewed every 10 years.

Pickering said in February that when he came on board five years ago, he was directed to put services out to bid as their contracts expire.

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