City Manager (Speaker 9) described a resident-initiated request from a community group seeking transition to a Little League organization and asking to use the city’s Hogan Fields and equipment at no cost for one to two years while they stand up a board and pursue 501(c)(3) status.

Staff said the relationship dynamic is not yet defined and that the city will likely provide maintenance and equipment in the first year while the organization forms. Councilmembers raised questions about who will prep and maintain fields, insurance and revenue sharing; one councilmember noted the city’s historical practice of assessing a split (described in the transcript as a 25/75 split) when outside entities operate on city fields.

Councilmember (Speaker 2) moved and Speaker 4 seconded a motion to place the Little League request on the next council agenda for further deliberation with one or two organizational representatives present. The motion passed on a voice vote.

Next steps: staff to invite representatives of the forming Little League organization to the next meeting with requested documents (mission statement, business plan, fiscal status and transition timeline) so council can consider terms such as maintenance responsibilities, insurance and any fee structure.


Speakers

- Speaker 9 — City Manager (first ref: SEG 1748)
- Speaker 2 — Councilmember (mover; first ref: SEG 1997)
- Speaker 4 — Councilmember Stroman (seconder)


Actions

- refer_little_league_to_future_agenda: {"kind":"motion","motion":"Place the Escalon Little League item on the next city council meeting agenda to consider allowing use of fields and park facilities.","mover":"Speaker 2","second":"Speaker 4","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Approved by voice vote; staff to request organizational documents for the next meeting."}


Clarifying details

- Transition period: organization requested two years of free use to stand up operations, though several councilmembers recommended one year and a mid-course reassessment.
- City support: staff indicated the city would likely do most field prep and maintenance in year one while the organization develops capacity.


Provenance

- topicintro: SEG 1748
- topfinish: SEG 2006