Board waives rental fees for Pacific Soccer Association fields; park board pushes lease terms

The City of Pacific Board of Aldermen voted to waive rental fees for three fields at Liberty Field for the Pacific Soccer Association’s July–November season, following a park board recommendation.

The waiver was moved and put to a voice vote; the chair announced “Motion carries.” The park board had asked the city to waive fees for the season and recommended the board accept PSA’s in‑kind field maintenance as payment.

Why it matters: The park board and aldermen debated whether a multi‑year lease is needed to avoid annual fee‑waiver requests and to protect city access. Park board members told aldermen they expect PSA to provide $2,500 to $3,000 worth of maintenance value annually—through aeration, overseeding, fertilization, labor or similar work—while the city’s listed season rental fee is $300 per field per season.

Park board and aldermanic discussion also outlined desired lease terms: limit leases to 10 years with extensions, specify the season as July through November, require a three‑to‑five‑year plan of proposed improvements from PSA, and clarify off‑season access and concession‑stand use. One alderman said the concession stand’s equipment appears to belong to PSA and asked whether PSA would run concessions for larger off‑season events.

City attorney Jones said he has drafted a lease that currently leaves terms such as season dates and payments blank so that the board can add the park board’s and PSA’s input. Jones told aldermen the draft does not yet describe the season or payment terms and that those items can be included in the final document.

Park board members noted the need for a clear exit clause if lease conditions are unmet and asked that any lease specify insurance requirements; one alderman said they believe the city’s insurance limit ‘‘seems like it’s a million now’’ but could not confirm the current requirement from the dais.

Park board liaison and aldermen recommended collecting PSA’s comments on the draft lease and consolidating park board and PSA suggestions before the lease is finalized and returned to the board for consideration.

Quotes: “Based on grass cutting, aeration, seeding, labor, whatever they do. Okay. It should be $2,500‑3,000 worth of value,” a park board representative said during the meeting.

Attorney Jones said of his draft lease: “I left that blank. I left blank what what, payments, if any, should be made. And my understanding is that they want to provide, like kind contributions.”

Ending: The aldermen accepted the park board’s recommendation to waive the fees for the season and directed staff and the city attorney to continue lease negotiations; the board did not finalize lease language at the April 15 meeting. The item will return to the council after PSA and park board input are consolidated.