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Laguna Hills council approves Cousteau Park t‑ball field after debate over school‑district cooperation
Summary
The council voted to approve staff’s recommendation to build a t‑ball/rookie field at Cousteau Park, 3–1, after Little League testified it has 116 t‑ball/rookie players and urged a near‑term solution. One councilmember urged pausing to seek a multi‑field partnership with the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.
The Laguna Hills City Council voted to proceed with city-funded improvements for a t‑ball/rookie field at Cousteau Park after hearing a packed debate over whether to delay the project and seek a joint program with the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.
Dan Mandel, a volunteer with Laguna Hills Little League, told the council the league currently has “116 t‑ball and rookie players,” and said the program needs a small, dedicated dirt field immediately to accommodate families and practices. “We need a place for them to play, and we need it as soon as possible,” Mandel said, urging the council to approve the city project.
Councilmember Wheeler argued the city could get better value by coordinating with the school district and upgrading multiple fields together. “If we pay one organization to do this field, I think we get a much better deal if we get the school district to maybe pony up a few dollars,” Wheeler said, urging delay to pursue a cooperative approach. Councilmembers Pezold and Mathis countered that school‑district property is distinct from city property and that the city should move forward now with the staff recommendation to relieve immediate field shortages.
Councilmember Pezold said many coaches and parents have reported insufficient space, and moving ahead with the city project would immediately alleviate pressure on existing fields. The council also heard that school fields are on district property and may be inaccessible for city maintenance or regular Little League use.
After discussion and public testimony, the council approved the staff recommendation on item 4.8 (roll‑call vote: Hazel — Aye; Sweeney — Aye; Mathis — Aye; Wheeler — No). The measure passed 3–1. The council directed staff to proceed with the city project; councilmembers also discussed pursuing separate conversations with the Saddleback Valley Unified School District about broader field improvements.
The approved action responds to near‑term youth‑sports capacity issues: Little League leaders said the extra field would serve roughly 116 families and 24 teams in the short term. The project will return to staff for implementation details and potential scheduling/maintenance plans.
The council did not adopt any binding agreement with the school district as part of this approval; any district coordination would require separate negotiations.
