Title
Discuss and consider action to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a Park Use Agreement with the Pflugerville Area Youth Soccer League (PAYSL) for the use of Wells Point Park, Bohls Park and the Swenson Pond parkland.
Summary
City staff has been working to develop a Youth Sports Policy for quite some time. After completing significant research, discussion and evaluation, the best course of action is to continue with development of the Youth Sports Policy for any future facilities and those that are currently unprogrammed and formalize the relationship that the City has with existing and vested youth sports providers.
The Pflugerville Area Youth Soccer League (PAYSL) is the largest and vested Pflugerville soccer league and has had almost exclusive use of Wells Point and Bohls Parks for over a decade. PAYSL has continued to grow and has the greatest need of any league for space. PAYSL also has a need and desire for better field conditions at both Wells Point and Bohls Parks. That desire is shared by many parents, residents and Parks & Recreation staff as well.
PAYSL leadership and Parks & Recreation staff have discussed the potential for a new agreement that will address maintenance responsibilities, exclusivity of use for practice, capital improvements and a cost-share approach. The City's maintenance responsibilites will basically remain the same as past agreements, while PAYSL's participation in cost of maintenance and improvements will increase significantly. If an agreement is negotiated that gives PAYSL exclusive use of the facilities for practices for ten (10) years, the League will make significant capital improvements to the facilties (at least $25,000 for Wells Point and $10,000 for Bohls) and increase the per player fee from $1 to $10 per rec player and $15 per select player. Increased fees will be implemented starting with the spring 2015 season and will incrementally increase to the new amount over a three (3) year period.
As was previously disussed at the October 14, 2014 City Council Meeting, Wells Point Park will still be available for games for the Austin Texans Soccer Club.
Attached is information that will be presented at the meeting, including participation numbers for PAYSL, their current field space allocation and the proposed field space allocation associated with this agreement.
Deadline for City Council Action
N/A
Fiscal Impact
Maintenance costs for these facilities will increase slightly with a more defined scope of turf maintenance, but revenue will increase significantly.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval to execute an agreement with PAYSL.
Drafter
James Hemenes
Parks & Recreation Director