CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
October 16, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Benita DeFrank, Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDED RESIDENCY RATE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve the recommended group classification residency rate requirements for youth sports leagues.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Currently, the Athletic Field Manual specifies that youth sports leagues, serving 100% Pomona residents (Group A users), pay no fees for the use of fields and a reduced fee rate of $10.45 per hour for field lighting. Youth sports leagues serving 80% Pomona residents (Group B) pay $15.70 per hour for the use of fields and $31.45 per hour for field lighting. Adult leagues and youth leagues that are not residency-based (Group C) pay $20.95 per hour for the use of fields and $36.70 per hour for field lighting. Staff is proposing to modify residency rate requirements for Group A users from 100% Pomona residency to 90%, and Group B users, from 80% Pomona residency to 75% Pomona residency. There are no proposed changes to Group C, as this group is not residency-based.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The reduction in residency rate requirements for Group A and Group B will result in an estimated $20k reduction in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Operating revenues in account 101-4141-40610-00000. Future years will be budgeted accordingly.
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On July 7, 2008, City Council approved the Athletic Fields Manual and adopted Resolution No. 2008-78, which established a fee structure for use of City-owned ballfields and sports field lighting.
On July 19, 2010, City Council reviewed a proposed fee schedule that included a lighting cost of $18.00 per hour for use of Sports Field Lighting at City ballfields. The Council did not adopt the $18.00 per hour rate, but instead referred the matter to the Parks and Recreation Commission to develop a recommendation for City Council consideration.
On September 20, 2010, the City Council continued this item to October 4, 2010 and was continued a second time to October 18, 2010, to allow staff additional time to gather related data.
On October 18, 2010, the City Council approved sports field lighting fees.
On October 7, 2013, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2013-102 approving a fee schedule for rental of City sport fields and electricity and in addition, Council approved an updated Athletic Fields Manual.
DISCUSSION:
Currently, the Community Services Division coordinates sports field usage for five youth sport leagues and one adult league. The Athletic Field Manual allocates fields and sets rental fees based on usage by three different types of user groups: Group A, Group B, and Group C. The majority of the leagues fall under Group A and Group B.
Group A: Youth, non-profit leagues or organizations based in the City Pomona, with an official address within City limits, serving 100% Pomona youth.
Group B: Youth, non-profit leagues or organizations based in the City of Pomona, with an official address within City limits, serving 80% Pomona youth.
Group C: All other user groups or outside rentals.
Natural Grass Turf Fields
Fee Schedule
Sports Fields/Facilities (per field)
Group A
Group B
Group C
Field Rental:
Baseball/Softball/Soccer/Football
Free
$15.70 per hour
$20.95 per hour
Light Fee Usage
$10.45 per hour
$31.45 per hour
$36.70 per hour
Clean up / Damage Fee
Please see page 13 for details*
Please see page 13 for details*
Please see page 13 for details*
Concession Use
Free
n/a
n/a
ADDITIONAL FEES:
Tournaments
Travel/Club/Friendly Games
Free
$26.20 per hour
$31.45 per hour
Security Personnel
(determined by City)
Vendor Cost
Vendor Cost
Vendor Cost
*The City will charge for clean-up fees for all field event/rentals. The amount of the clean-up fee is based on the reasonable cost of City labor forces and City material required to perform general clean-up work to restore the facility to the condition, which existed prior to applicant’s use.
The proposal to reduce or even eliminate sports field and lighting fees has been a topic of discussion since 2010, when the City Council adopted the current fee schedule for lighting fees. League representatives argue that lighting is one of their biggest expenses, resulting in passing down those costs to families, thus reducing the number of youth playing sports. Further, the pandemic significantly impacted the number of youth sports leagues, as many suffered financial losses and were unable to recover. Prior to the pandemic, there were seven Pomona-based youth sports leagues and two adult leagues.
On September 19, 2023, the Youth Sports Committee was presented with the recommendation to adjust the residency rate requirement for all user groups by City staff. Committee members agreed with City staff’s proposal to reduce Group A residency rate from 100% to 90% and Group B from 80% to 75%. Based on the season and league enrollment, this would allow for one to two leagues in Group B, a reduced lighting fee from $31.45 per hour to $10.45 per hour and eliminate the field rental fee of $15.70 per hour per field. In attendance were league representatives from the following youth sports leagues included Pomona American Little League, Pomona Ted Greene Little League, and Soccer Champions Youth League.
On September 21, 2023, the Parks and Recreation Commission was presented a discussion item regarding the residency rate requirements for sports user groups. City staff stated the change in residency rate requirements would currently affect one youth sports league. If the Group B sports league moves to Group A, the lighting fee of $31.45 per hour would be reduced to $10.45 per hour and would result in a reduction in revenue of $2,598.75 to the FY 2023-24 Operating Budget. In addition, another $6,130.50 would also impact the FY 2023-24 Operating Budget if the $15.70 per hour per field fee is no longer charged. The Commission voted unanimously of members present (6-0), supporting the recommended changes to the group classification residency rates requirements for Group A and Group B.
It is staff’s recommendation that the City Council approve the proposed residency rate requirements for Group A from 100% to 90% Pomona residency and Group B from 80% to 75% Pomona residency. There are no proposed changes to Group C users, as this group are adult leagues and is not residency based. Upon approval, staff will update the Athletic Fields Manual to reflect the new requirements. (Attachment 1) It is staff’s hope that in reducing the residency rate requirements for Pomona-based youth sports leagues, this will increase the utilization of sports fields in order to serve more Pomona youth through sports activities.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS:
This item supports the 2021-2022 City Council Priority 4: Safe and Clean Community – Goal M: Improve safety and cleanliness at parks and public spaces.
Prepared by:
________________________
Monica Belloso
Management Analyst
Attachment No.1: Updated Athletic Field Manual
Approve Recommendation to Modify Residency Requirements of Group Classifications for Use of City Sports Fields and Field Lighting Fees