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Advisory board urges staff to include spring 2027 youth soccer in budget planning
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Summary
Board members and coaches discussed space, staffing and budget timing; the advisory board voted Aug. 20 to recommend staff include a spring 2027 youth soccer season in the city's budget planning process and to analyze staffing and facility needs.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted Aug. 20 to recommend that staff include a spring 2027 youth soccer season in the city’s budget planning and to study staffing and facility needs to support an additional season.
A board member and youth coach (S2) said significant wait lists and parent interest prompted the request to add a spring season so more children can play year-round. "I'm looking for '27," the coach said, noting the need to begin the budget and staffing process well ahead of the proposed season.
Jeff Reath, acting director of community services, explained constraints: the fiscal-year 2026–27 budget has just been approved and any new programming would typically be proposed through the city’s April budget process. Reath said adding spring soccer would likely require one to two additional staff positions to avoid overburdening current staff, and the department must resolve facility and drainage issues (notably at Slater Creek Park) before increasing field use.
A board motion asked staff to analyze costs, staffing and facility readiness and to include spring soccer in the 2027 budget planning; the motion was seconded and passed by roll-call vote with all members present recorded as yes.
Next steps: staff will collect data on facility availability, drainage and estimated staffing needs and include a proposal in budget planning materials for council consideration during the FY 2026–27 budget process.
