Pewaukee delays decision on Lake Country Football Club facility‑use agreement after concerns on exclusivity and residency target

Parks and recreation staff presented a proposed three‑year facility‑use agreement with the Lake Country Football Club (LCFC) to allow the club to use fields at the Pewaukee sports complex for 2025–2028. Staff described the arrangement as a straightforward facility‑use agreement, not a partnership, and said it was recommended by the Parks & Recreation Board.

The proposal includes an enrollment expectation that 40% of participants be Pewaukee residents, a requirement that prompted pushback from council members who said the threshold felt low compared with other local youth sports programs. A parks and recreation staff member said the 40% target was based on prior enrollment patterns and was intended to encourage the club to prioritize Pewaukee youth while giving a new club time to establish itself over three years. "We did base this off of the previous organization to an extent of total enrollment in Pewaukee kids percentage base," the staff member said.

Council members also raised objections to contract language that would grant LCFC exclusive use of fields during certain date ranges and permit the club to require other users to vacate scheduled fields. One member said the city parks should remain open to residents when not scheduled and suggested the contract be changed to grant first‑right scheduling for LCFC on identified fields rather than broad exclusivity. Staff said the intent was to let the club use the fields it schedules for games and practices but agreed to clarify the paper trail so it reads as a practical scheduling priority rather than an absolute ban on other neighborhood use.

Several members questioned the existing practice of routing sponsorship and advertising revenue into the nonprofit "Friends of Pewaukee Parks" account rather than city general funds. Parks staff explained the structure was designed to keep sponsorship dollars targeted for sports‑complex improvements; staff said historically sums pulled from the account have been modest and occasionally used to support other parks projects. Council members asked staff to revisit the sponsorship flow and report back.

After extended discussion, the council took no formal vote on the agreement that night and asked city staff to revise the contract language (specifically exclusivity, scheduling, and sponsorship handling) and return the item for approval at a later meeting. "So then we don't have to take any action tonight," the presiding official said. "We'll rewrite this and then bring it back for us to approve at the next meeting."