Santa Clara staff, youth sports leaders debate resident discounts and new nonprofit category for field permits

City parks staff and youth sports leaders discussed proposed changes to field permit fees and a possible new category for youth nonprofit groups during a Parks and Recreation staff meeting. Staff described a draft that would give a 50% permit-fee discount to organizations with at least 75% Santa Clara residents on their rosters and considered adding a separate category for youth nonprofit groups that fall below that threshold.

The discussion matters because it affects who gets priority access to limited field space and how much groups would pay. Staff and users said the city is trying to balance cost recovery for field maintenance with preserving affordable access for Santa Clara youth.

Kim Castro, Parks and Recreation Manager, described the staff proposal to reduce category 2 nonprofit youth groups’ field permit fees by half if 75% or more of rostered participants are Santa Clara residents. "The proposal was for this category only... having at least 75% or more residents on their roster would pay a reduced permit fee of 50%," Castro said.

Staff pres…