Hughson council approves interim $1,400 season fee for youth baseball after public comments

HUGHSON — The Hughson City Council voted Feb. 24 to set an interim season rental fee of $1,400 for the Hughson Youth Baseball/Softball (HYBS) league, after more than 30 minutes of testimony from league volunteers and discussion among council members.

The council’s action adjusts a long-standing local practice. HYBS has been charged $800 per season under an earlier arrangement; the Parks, Recreation and Entertainment Commission recommended raising the seasonal charge to $2,000. The council’s motion, made during the meeting’s discussion of agenda item 6.1, set an interim fee that is higher than the current $800 but lower than the commission’s recommendation.

League volunteers told the council the increase would be unaffordable and could force the league to cancel. “We built and we have paid for over the 67 years of labor and work… we have given or we have spent over $500,000 into LeBrite,” said Ginny Wells, who identified herself as a HYBS board member. Wells described the league’s operating budget and said snack-shack revenue supports paid youth positions: “Our snapchat money is used to employ and pay on average 20 to 30 high school kids every year.”

HYBS provided detailed figures during public comment and in the staff report. Staff said the league’s total seasonal liabilities and facility-related costs, if calculated using updated dates, would be about $11,006.50, with staff estimating the city’s waived portion in past years at roughly $9,650. The league proposed about $6,500 worth of volunteer work and in-kind improvements to maintain the fields; staff said some of that work overlaps with routine public-works maintenance.

Council members expressed concern for both fiscal equity and the league’s financial reality. “I hear you,” one council member said, noting the need to balance costs for residents who do not use the fields. After discussion the council proposed a compromise between the $800 current fee and the $2,000 commission recommendation. The mayor made the motion to set the new fee at $1,400 for the 2025 season; the motion passed by voice vote with council members present indicating “aye.”

Marcy, who identified herself as president of Hughson Youth Football Volunteer, told council members that football and cheer programs have also faced recent fee increases and warned that additional fundraisers would strain volunteer capacity. Council members said they will continue discussions with league leaders and staff to refine the final fee structure and to clarify which costs the city will absorb or waive in future seasons.

The council instructed staff to return the item for final action at a future meeting after staff and council negotiations with the leagues. The interim fee takes effect for the 2025 regular season pending that follow-up.

Votes at a glance

• Motion to set HYBS seasonal rental fee at $1,400 (amendment to staff/commission proposal): passed (voice vote; members recorded voting “aye” during roll call).