Soccer group and city discuss lease terms: maintenance credit, season dates and exhibit to show fields

Board members and staff discussed a draft field-lease agreement with Pacific Soccer Association (PSA) May 6 and directed staff to update the draft to reflect several specific items PSA requested.

City staff presented a draft rental/lease agreement and noted the agreement did not identify which fields were included. PSA requested an exhibit or drawing that explicitly shows the three fields covered by the lease (excluding the multipurpose and rodeo areas). PSA also asked that the lease specify the soccer season as July 1'Nov. 30 and include language to avoid scheduling practices or games on Fridays and Saturdays of major city events (such as the rodeo), provided the city gives notice of event dates by April 1.

PSA asked the city to waive rental fees in exchange for annual maintenance PSA performs (seeding, aeration, fertilization) and suggested the value of those services be reflected in the lease; park board members proposed a $2,500 minimum maintenance credit with a board exception for years affected by weather. Aldermen and staff discussed remedies and events of default already in the draft; attorney Jones noted section 14 lists events of default and general remedies, but no specific remedy tied to a failure to perform in-kind services was present.

Other items the board asked to add or clarify included: specifying whether the concession stand building (equipment owned by PSA) is part of the leased exhibit, ensuring the city will not require PSA to pay real-estate taxes for property the city retains, and listing city maintenance responsibilities (such as grass cutting to 3 inches or lower during soccer season). The board asked attorney Jones and staff to revise the draft and return it to the board after PSA review; no final lease vote was taken at the May 6 meeting.