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Parks commission recommends assigning Legion Field agreements to new Douglas County Baseball Association
Summary
The commission voted to forward a recommendation to city council to assign the Legion Field Management and Operations Agreement and the Legion Field Turf Construction License Agreement to a newly formed Douglas County Baseball Association; Umpqua Community College will act as a temporary fiscal agent and the city requested a nonvoting ex officio seat on the new board.
The Roseburg Parks & Recreation Commission on Oct. 2 voted to recommend that city council approve the assignment of two long-standing agreements for Legion Field to a newly formed nonprofit, the Douglas County Baseball Association (DCBA).
City staff summarized the background: the city owns facilities in Stewart Park, including the American Legion Baseball complex (referred to in the transcript also as Beale Grama Stadium), and has two agreements with the Roseburg American Legion Baseball Commission — the Legion Field Management and Operations Agreement and the Legion Field Turf Construction License Agreement. Staff read the assignment clause in the operations agreement stating that assignments require prior written consent from the city and that an unauthorized assignment would be void.
Staff said the American Legion commission's membership has declined and that Umpqua Community College (UCC) formed a baseball team and agreed to help form the Douglas County Baseball Association to manage the facility; UCC will serve as a temporary fiscal agent during formation. Staff recommended forwarding a recommendation to city council to approve assignment of both agreements to DCBA and noted that existing user agreements with Roseburg High School, Umpqua Valley Christian School and UCC will need to be assigned and honored by DCBA.
Community members spoke in support. Rachel Perkins, introduced as "the president at UCC," said she was present "just here to support" the proposal. Jeremiah Owens, described in the meeting as UCC's head baseball coach and a former Legion player, spoke about his long involvement.
Staff also said the city requested a nonvoting, ex officio seat on the DCBA board so city staff can attend meetings and stay informed without taking a voting position. After discussion, a commissioner moved and seconded a motion to forward the recommendation to city council; the motion passed by voice vote.
Next steps: staff expects to place the assignment request on a future city council agenda (staff mentioned Oct. 28 as a possible council meeting date to consider agenda items) and will provide updates to the Parks Commission. The commission emphasized continuity of priority uses (youth organized baseball and Roseburg High School among the highest priorities) and that any assignment remains subject to the city's written consent under the current agreement.
