Deerfield Beach approves up to $127,000 to relaunch Packer Rattlers youth football program

The Deerfield Beach City Commission on Feb. 18 approved a one-year facility-use agreement and funding package totaling up to $127,000 to relaunch the Deerfield Packer Rattlers youth football, cheer and academic-support program.

Parks and recreation Director Greg Warner told the commission the city will fully fund the program in its first year to help it regain stability. Warner said the package includes $35,000 from the parks and recreation budget plus up to $92,000 from the Target Area Trust Fund, for a combined not-to-exceed amount of $127,000.

The agreement requires the nonprofit DPR Youth Enrichment Association for Academics and Athletics Inc. (the Packer Rattlers’ corporate filing name) to provide youth tackle football, cheerleading and academic supports for ages 4 through 14, to maintain nonprofit status in Florida, and to submit audited financial statements at the end of the one-year term. Warner said all league volunteers will be required to undergo level-2 background screenings as required by state law.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the program provides supervised activity, mentorship and community pride for District 2 youth and can feed the high-school program. Commissioners and many residents called the Packer Rattlers a longtime part of Deerfield Beach’s civic fabric and argued seeding the program now may prevent larger costs later.

Key elements of the agreement and budget described by staff include use of the Oviedo McKeithen football complex (fields, concession stand and press box), refurbishment and purchase of protective equipment and uniforms, payment for game officials, bus transportation for away games, up to five home and five away games anticipated for the season, BSO special-detail officers for game days, background checks and a required CPA audit. Warner said purchases will follow city procurement policies and the city will assist with participant registration and in-kind staff support for game days.

Residents who spoke during the public comment period expressed broad support for restoring the program and raised implementation questions. Gwen Clark Reed asked how much remains in the Target Area Trust Fund and whether other target-area projects would be affected; the city manager responded the trust fund derives from recouped code fines earmarked for Target Area redevelopment and quality-of-life uses and said those other projects would not be depleted by the agreement. Resident Dan Hirsch (Hurst in audio) asked why the audit requirement applied to the Packer Rattlers when some other civic groups have not been required to provide audited statements; Warner said the audit requirement was recommended by the city manager as a condition of the seed funding and would provide transparency for the one-year funding.

Commissioners debated fundraising strategy and whether to charge registration fees in year one. Vice Mayor Drosky said he urged that unused funds be allowed to roll into year two, and he said he expects year-two fundraising will be necessary. Several commissioners, including Mayor Gans and Commissioner Preston, praised the new executive board members named by the organization, including past deputy James Nichols and local leaders Bishop Nathaniel Knowles, Marilyn Strawbridge, Bernard Adams and Tremaine Hall.

Vote and next steps: Commissioner Preston moved approval; Commissioner Parnas seconded. The commission voted 5-0 to approve the facility-use agreement and the funding authorization, and staff will execute the agreement and implement year-one oversight and auditing requirements.

Votes at a glance: - Consent items 2–7 (minutes and routine board minutes): motion approved 5-0 (Commissioners Hudak, Parnas, Preston, Vice Mayor Drosky and Mayor Gans voted yes). (Roll call recorded during consent vote.) - Item 8 — Resolution approving facility-use agreement with DPR Youth Enrichment Association for Academics and Athletics Inc., authorizing up to $35,000 from parks and recreation and up to $92,000 from the Target Area Trust Fund (total not to exceed $127,000): motion approved 5-0 (Hudak, Parnas, Preston, Drosky, Gans yes). (Motion by Commissioner Preston; second by Commissioner Parnas.)

Background and context: Warner and other commissioners said the Packer Rattlers program dates to 1976 and historically supplied players to Deerfield Beach High School. The city and community have previously seeded the league during revival efforts; Warner referenced a prior multi-year absence and effects of COVID-19 on participation. The one-year agreement is structured to give the league time to rebuild fundraising and volunteer capacity while the city provides initial financial and in-kind support.

Implementation details to watch: the league must obtain a CPA-issued audit and produce an audit opinion at the end of the one-year term; staff will follow city purchasing rules for equipment and services; all volunteers will undergo required level-2 background checks; the city anticipates five home games and five away games for the initial season.

Ending: The commission’s action restores the Packer Rattlers with city funding and oversight for one year; the organization and city officials said they will pursue fundraising and sponsorships during the season to seek sustainability for subsequent years.