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Saint Cloud approves one-year Little League agreement, phases nonresident fees and waives costs for Challenger program
Summary
After hours of public comment, the council approved a one-year facility-use agreement for Saint Cloud Little League with a $150-per-team fee and an additional $25-per-nonresident fee for 2026, exempting Challenger League participants from the new charges and allowing property-owning nonresidents to qualify for resident rates.
The Saint Cloud City Council on Jan. 15 approved a one‑year facility‑use agreement with Saint Cloud Little League that adjusts how the city allocates field maintenance costs between residents and nonresidents while giving the league a phased timeline to absorb increases.
Stephanie Holcamp, parks and recreation director, told the council the city’s ongoing annual cost to maintain the Civic Center Complex ballfields is approximately $392,408 and that Little League accounts for roughly 1,100 hours of field time annually (about 60% of total field use). Staff proposed a new fee model intended to distribute costs more equitably between ad valorem taxpayers and nonresident users; specifics in staff materials proposed a model that would eventually move to $200 per team and $75 per nonresident participant.
Saint Cloud Little League President Danielle Momenteller urged caution. “Quite simply, we cannot afford an increase of this magnitude,” she said, arguing that an abrupt rise would force hard choices for families and volunteers who operate and sustain the program.
After extensive public comment from coaches, board members and parents, council members agreed on a one‑year agreement for calendar 2026 that uses a phased approach for increases. The council motion set the fee at $150 per team per season and added a $25 per nonresident participant fee for 2026. Council also directed that the additional nonresident charge would not apply to Challenger League participants with special needs and that property owners who pay ad valorem taxes to the city can qualify for the resident rate. The motion passed 5–0.
Staff and league leaders said they will use the one‑year period to monitor participation, costs and registration data and bring back any recommended changes for 2027. The city also committed to help verify resident versus nonresident addresses via its GIS tools and to work with the league on registration reporting.
Next steps: staff will finalize the one‑year contract reflecting the council’s direction, incorporate the Challenger League exemption and the resident‑by‑property‑owner provision, and schedule a workshop to analyze longer-term fee models and verification procedures.
