Title
Authorizing the City Manager to Issue a One Year Notice of Intent to Terminate Agreement for all existing youth sports agreements, and authorizing staff to begin developing a youth sports policy for consideration by the City Council.
Summary
Over the years, numerous agreements have been developed with youth sports associations, sports clubs, and the school district to support youth sports in Pflugerville. Some of the agreements have been approved by the City Council, some by staff, and other agreements have been merely handshake deals. The terms and requirements of the agreements vary significantly.
As was discussed at the May 8, 2012 City Council Worksession with the Parks and Recreation Commission, participation in youth sports is beginning to exceed the capacity of existing field space within the City. As our City continues to grow, our existing youth sports association agreements do not contemplate how to deal with new groups vying for the same field space. The existing agreements also have the City performing a significant portion of the maintenance associated with the playing fields. There is a concern that the current agreement structure is not sustainable over the long term.
At the May 8, 2012 Worksession, we also discussed the need to develop a City Youth Sports/Athletics Policy which would clearly define the City's role in youth sports in our community. The goals for the policy might include issues such as:
· promote physical fitness for the youth in our community,
· identify the City's role in developing emerging new sports,
· treat all sports and segments of the community equitably,
· promote the creation of youth sports associations to manage and financially support youth sports,
· determine an equitable process for sharing common facilities between associations, and
· be financially sustainable for the City.
We believe that this is the right time to begin working on such a policy.
The current youth sports agreements generally are set up to renew automatically, unless a one year notice of termination is provided. We are suggesting that the City provide the one year notice of termination to the youth sports associations, so that we can negotiate new agreements that will reflect a Youth Sports Policy adopted by the City Council. The goal would be to have new agreements in place for the Fall 2013 athletic seasons.
Projected Future City Council Action
Adoption of a Youth Sports Policy, and approval of various Youth Sports Association Agreements.
Fiscal Impact
Unknown at this time.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval.
Drafter
Tom Word, Assistant City Manager for Community Services