Parks board schedules special meeting to set tournament fees and liability rules, seeks law-department review

The Parks Board on July 30 directed staff to convene a special meeting to draft and finalize new tournament fees and liability-insurance requirements for adult and youth sports, and asked the city law department to review the proposed changes before the handbook is finalized. Why it matters: Tournament fees, insurance requirements and handbook language determine the cost and legal exposure for local sports leagues, which affects scheduling, team budgets and use of city-owned fields. Board chair and members said they want the handbook updates completed and reviewed by the law department so the full package can go to the City Council and, if approved, take effect with the next season. Heather, parks staff, told the board that the city’s open-meeting-notice rules require at least 48 hours’ public notice before a meeting and that the law department and council review will be needed for any handbook amendments. Board members discussed scheduling a meeting for the week after the current meeting; they indicated Wednesday of the following week (Aug. 6) at 4 p.m. as the tentative time if the room and legal staff are available. A staff member said the law department typically wants to be present for handbook reviews and that any final changes should be grouped into a single submission so council reviews the whole handbook at once. Board member Peter (title: parks staff; comment) said the handbook changes must be consolidated rather than sent piecemeal: "They want to approve the whole handbook changes all at once," he said. Board members emphasized that organizers of baseball, softball and basketball tournaments need clarity on fees and insurance ahead of the next season so leagues can budget and buy coverage. The board agreed the special meeting should aim to finish drafting policy by early October so the law office can prepare final language and the council can act with a January effective date. Staff was directed to circulate comparative fee examples for neighboring municipalities, coordinate availability for board members and the law department, and post the required public notice once a date and room are confirmed. No final policy was adopted at the July 30 meeting; the board set next steps and deadlines for staff and legal review.