Naples council approves multi‑year license agreements for youth leagues, adopts payment plan for Girls Softball

The Naples City Council unanimously approved a set of multi‑year license agreements on Dec. 3 that renew the city’s partnerships with three longstanding youth sports organizations and set a new user fee structure intended to sustain field maintenance.

Community Services Director Chad Merritt presented the agreements for Naples Girls Softball, Greater Naples Little League and Naples Gators and said staff and the Community Services Advisory Board recommended "option 1": a three‑year term with two one‑year renewal options, an initial participant fee of $3 per player per week increasing to $5 by year five, and a separate maintenance fee to help offset field upkeep. Merritt told council the city currently receives roughly $5,200 a year in revenue from the softball league and that organizers live in the city at a rate of about 14 percent for that league.

Merritt also said the original 1999 agreement included a city advance of about $155,500 to pay for bleachers; after payments over the years the remaining balance on that obligation is roughly $63,000. The proposed license for Naples Girls Softball includes an allowance for the organization to retire that balance over the five‑year term. "We wanted to make sure it was in here and have this conversation because I think that we wanted to make sure you understood what the balance is," Merritt said.

Council members pressed staff on the realism of the repayment timeline. Council member Christmann noted the organization had raised roughly $90,000 over 25 years and questioned whether $14,000 per year to retire the remaining balance was achievable. Parks manager David Michael said the league would have to move fields for some large special events this season and that staff had prepared alternative locations; he later clarified that for the coming season the league would be prevented from using Cambier Park on only six weekends and otherwise would be accommodated.

Multiple council members proposed ideas to help the organization reduce the debt, including targeted fundraisers and a fee charged to large special events that displace the league. Council member Barton suggested special‑event fees be earmarked for the league; Council member Kramer and others urged balancing cost recovery with keeping youth sports accessible.

Martin Kurtz, president of Naples Girls Softball, told council the organization supports the proposed fee structure and said the group is already taking fundraising steps (including a December 21 fundraising camp and a crowdfunding campaign) to address the outstanding balance.

Final votes: council adopted the Naples Girls Softball license (13A) with approval of staff’s option 1 payment schedule; they separately approved the Greater Naples Little League license (13B) and the Naples Gators license (13C). Each motion passed unanimously.

Council members and staff said the agreements will begin Jan. 1, 2026, and that staff will return with any recommended amendments if fundraising or other circumstances require adjustments.