Committee backs draft MOU to let school district pursue sponsorships for field improvements

Staff presented a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) developed with the school district to formalize the district's use of Farla and Murrin Park fields and to allow the district to pursue sponsorships and fundraising for facility improvements. S1 explained the draft is intended to clarify responsibilities and liability, and to allow the district to solicit and apply sponsorship revenue to capital improvements "while maintaining city oversight."

S2 said the draft mirrors prior city policy on naming rights and noted the draft must be reviewed by the city attorney and accepted by the school board before becoming effective. Committee members asked questions about which improvements the district could fund and how fundraising would be approved; staff confirmed written approval by the city would be required before any installation or permanent changes.

The committee voted to move the draft MOU forward for legal review and to transmit it to the school district for consideration. Staff said the draft could be revised after legal review and feedback from the district; final agreement and any naming-right approvals would return to the committee and council as needed.