Council tables Palm Coast Baseball facility-use agreement over concessions, maintenance and scheduling questions

Councilman Gambarro moved to pull the facilities-use agreement for Palm Coast Baseball LLC from the consent agenda for separate action after several council members raised concerns about unclear contract language that could create conflicting obligations with existing tenant groups.

Staff described the proposal as a non-exclusive facilities-use agreement for a collegiate wooden-bat summer league (the Orange League) that would run roughly June through July and include other cities in the region. Staff said the league’s schedule would be coordinated with the city scheduler (James) and that fields would remain open for public play outside scheduled events.

Vice Mayor Pontieri and others asked for clarifications about several contract provisions: a clause that appears to grant the league ‘‘exclusive right to operate all concession stands … during the term of the agreement’’; a maintenance obligation described as requiring the league to ‘‘maintain the complex in good working order’’; and a reference to the league ‘‘policing’’ the area (council suggested replacing the word with language about cleanup). Council asked whether those obligations were limited to game times, whether restroom and clubhouse access would remain public, and whether the agreement could conflict with the existing Palm Coast Little League lease.

Staff offered to meet with Little League and to revise the draft. Councilman Gambarro moved to table the resolution approving the agreement to the May 19 business meeting to allow those edits and discussions; the motion passed unanimously on roll call.

Next steps: staff will meet with Palm Coast Little League and return with revised contract language addressing exclusivity, concessions, maintenance responsibilities and the problematic wording flagged by council.