DATE: 10/01/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
2025-386
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
REQUEST TO MAINTAIN GROUP II-NONPROFIT FIELD RESERVATION STATUS FOR CORONA NATIONAL LITTLE LEAGUE THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to temporarily allow Corona National Little League (CNLL) to continue reserving City athletic fields under its current Group II - Resident Nonprofit status through December 31, 2025. This approval is temporary, pending CNLL’s reinstatement of its 501(c)(3) status and restoration of its good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board. This action supports CNLL’s ongoing efforts to provide equitable access to City fields for local youth and families, in alignment with Athletic Facility Allocation Policy 06400.004 and applicable municipal code.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Approve Corona National Little League’s temporary eligibility to reserve City athletic fields as Group II - Resident Nonprofit through December 31, 2025, subject to applicable fees, pending their reinstatement of its 501(c)(3) status and restoration of its good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board. b. Provide retroactive approval of Corona National Little League’s designation as Group II – Resident Nonprofit for the Spring 2025 allocation season from January – June 2025.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The City of Corona’s Athletic Facility Allocation Policy 06400.004 reflects a long-standing commitment to equitable access, community benefit, and responsible stewardship of public resources. A cornerstone of this framework is the prioritization of resident-based, recreational non-profit organizations. Under this policy, Group II – Everyone Plays Athletic Youth Groups, receive higher priority for field access along with reduced field rental rates.
To qualify for Group II status under the Athletic Facility Allocation Policy 06400.004, organizations must:
Hold a current 501(c)(3) non-profit designation
Be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) Maintain a minimum percentage of resident participants Operate under an inclusive “everyone plays” philosophy that ensures broad access for local youth
Corona National Little League (CNLL), established in 1957, is the City’s longest continuously operating youth sports league. It offers divisions for boys and girls ages 4– 16, including a Challenger Program for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities. CNLL has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to youth development, inclusivity, and community engagement. While CNLL currently holds a valid 501(c)(3) designation, its FTB status is pending review and final clearance by the state of California for the 2022/2023 filing year.
Current CNLL President Ian Miller inherited the league’s “Not in Good Standing” designation, officially issued by the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) on April 2, 2024.
Since taking office, Mr. Miller has worked diligently to resolve outstanding filings and restore the league’s compliance status. All filing periods through 2021–2022 have been successfully cleared, and CNLL is currently awaiting final confirmation of its 2022–2023 submission. Throughout this process, Mr. Miller has maintained consistent communication with both City staff and the FTB, demonstrating transparency and accountability at every step. At the request of the state, he has resubmitted documentation multiple times to ensure accuracy and completeness.
ANALYSIS:
Staff has reviewed CNLL’s recent efforts to resolve its delinquent filings and restore full compliance. Without verified non-profit status in “good standing” with the FTB, CNLL would be reclassified as a Priority Group 4 user. This shift would increase their field reservation rates from $7 an hour, totaling $3,892.00 monthly, to $40 an hour, totaling $22,240 monthly, which presumably would create a financial burden for the organization.
Maintaining CNLL’s temporary Group II status ensures affordability and continuity of service while the league finalizes its compliance efforts.
Based on the issues stated previously, staff does not have the authority to continue to treat CNLL as a Group II organization. However, the City Council can temporarily continue CNLL’s Group II eligibility. Therefore, given CNLL’s longstanding history, inclusive programming, and alignment with the City’s values of equitable access and community benefit, staff recommends a temporary continuance of CNLL’s Group II eligibility through December 31, 2025. This approach ensures uninterrupted service to local youth while maintaining accountability through the requirement to submit updated documentation once the FTB status is restored.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This decision has no financial impact on the City, as CNLL has historically paid all applicable fees associated with Group II- Resident Nonprofit status for field reservations.
CNLL has consistently complied with the City's fee structure for nonprofit recreational groups, and no request for discounted or waived fees is being made as part of this temporary approval. Therefore, the continued designation under Group II does not result in any loss of revenue or added cost to the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action is to temporarily approve CNLL Group II- Resident nonprofit status for field reservations, and there is not a possibility that adopting this resolution will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: KAREN LEE, RECREATION SUPERVISOR & MONIQUE LEON,
RECREATION MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: DONNA FINCH, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Entity Status Letter