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Council asks staff to explore hosting and partial funding for Midnight Basketball League
Summary
Council directed staff to explore hosting and potentially funding a Midnight Basketball League and to return with facility, liability and budget recommendations.
Council members Pearson and Orleman asked staff to study a proposal to bring a Midnight Basketball program to Brentwood and to consider a possible $25,000 contribution toward startup or operating costs.
Council members met with Pastor Kirkland (representing a community program currently run in Antioch) and said the Midnight Basketball League provides supervised evening hours for youth and young adults, pairs sports with mentoring and workshops, serves participants aged roughly 12–25, feeds participants during sessions, and is free to attendees. The program has historically drawn participants from surrounding cities, including Brentwood: staff figures cited in the meeting show roughly 29 participants from Brentwood across several seasons.
Council asked staff to report back with: (a) potential indoor facility locations and scheduling availability, (b) liability and insurance requirements for a third‑party program run on city facilities, (c) a review of whether the program should be listed in the city’s recreation guide or otherwise promoted by city channels, and (d) options for matching funding with Oakley and Antioch or County partners. Council discussed that the church pastor has applied for county funding for a gym; staff said any city listing or funding of third‑party programs will trigger questions about vendor selection and consistency in the city’s guide.
No formal funding commitment was made; the council motion asked staff to explore the $25,000 ask and facility options and to return with recommendations and a proposed agreement for council consideration.
Why it matters: The program is intended as a “third‑space” for youth activity and mentorship during evening hours and could offer structured alternatives to unsupervised street activity. The ask is modest relative to capital projects, but raises programmatic and liability questions that staff must address.
What’s next: Staff will prepare a report with facility availability, insurance/contract terms, budget implications, and possible partnerships or matched funding for council review.
