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Council approves phased increases to youth field fees after ad hoc talks with leagues
Summary
After an ad hoc committee of city staff, council members and youth‑sports representatives met, the City Council approved a two‑step increase in hourly field reservation fees for ‘everyone plays’ youth leagues, with accompanying field‑maintenance and coordination measures.
The City Council approved a phased fee increase and operational changes for use of city athletic fields by community youth leagues after staff and league representatives negotiated an ad hoc agreement.
Donna Finch, community services director, reviewed a parks‑and‑recreation master plan that recommended cost‑recovery targets and said youth sports field reservations had a low cost‑recovery rate (about 12.6% in FY24). The city proposed new fees to improve cost recovery, and the ad hoc group — which included Councilmember Tony and park and recreation commissioner Tom Munoz plus representatives of youth leagues — reviewed several scenarios.
The committee recommended creating a separate service category called “everyone plays” for community leagues, setting a cost‑recovery target of 20–30%, and phasing in hourly reservation fees. The recommendation sets the initial fee at $7 per hour effective July 1, 2025, followed by $10 per hour effective July 1, 2026. Staff explained the increases were designed to share maintenance and operations costs while keeping participation broadly affordable.
League representatives supported the agreement. James Rush of AYSO Region 37 said the ad hoc process “allowed the leagues to understand some of the fiscal challenges that the city faces” and that the recommended rates “allow you to meet your threshold of meeting the cost recovery … but also affords us the opportunity to keep the rates as low as possible.”
The committee also recommended operational changes to reduce wear and improve coordination: preseason and postseason walkthroughs between city staff and leagues, a field‑maintenance checklist that clarifies city vs. league responsibilities, and biannual meetings to monitor field conditions and use. Council approved the plan and the fee schedule 5‑0.
