Council Eyes Sports Field Renovation Funding

Piedmont families may soon find themselves paying $25 for each child playing on a youth sports club team, with the money going toward future renovation of city and school district sports fields.

Leaders of local sports programs are expected to present a plan to the Piedmont Cty Council on Oct. 15 for donations to the Athletic Facilities Preservation Funds (AFPF), according to a press release issued by city officials Monday.

Representatives of local youth soccer, baseball, softball and lacrosse programs first outlined the plan to the Piedmont Recreation Commission on Sept. 19. The plan calls for clubs to contribute "an amount equal to $25 per roster member per sport to the City’s and School District’s Athletic Facilities Preservation Funds, with the exact amount of said contribution to be allocated to each of the funds to be jointly determined by the City Council and the sports clubs," according to the press release.

Participants in Piedmont Recreation Department sports programs are already paying a similar fee.

The funds will be used for periodic renovation of playing fields — an especially expensive proposition for fields covered in artificial turf. In 2007 for example, it cost $800,000 to refurbish Witter Field and Track.

City and school district officials decided last year to establish a special fund for future sports field replacement projects. They have since decided to operate separate funds.

Here's the press release issued by the city:

"CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER SPORT ORGANIZATIONS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ATHLETIC FACILITIES PRESERVATION FUND

"The Piedmont City Council will consider contributions to the City from community sports organizations as a part of their regular agenda scheduled for Monday, October 15, 2012 at 7:30pm in the City Council Chambers at 120 Vista Avenue in Piedmont.

It is anticipated that the Piedmont soccer, baseball, softball and lacrosse youth sports program leaders will make a presentation to the City Council outlining a program wherein these groups will donate to the City’s dedicated Athletic Facilities Preservation Fund (AFPF).

On July 16, 2012 the Piedmont City Council established the Athletic Facilities Preservation Fund for the purpose of financing future athletic field renovation, maintenance or replacement. The funding will come from a $25 per player, per season surcharge on participants in the city sponsored Recreation Department Sports Programs. The surcharge fees received for programs held on city property will be held in the AFPF while such funding collected for programs held on Piedmont Unified School District property will be forwarded to the School District.

Also on July 16, the City Council requested that the Recreation Commission consider the matter of payment by the Piedmont community sports organizations to the Athletic Facilities Preservation Fund for use of city athletic fields.  This matter was considered by the Recreation Commission on September 19, 2012 at which time the sports organizations made a proposal that was unanimously approved by the Commission:

Resolved, that the Recreation Commission recommends to the City Council that it accept the community sports clubs’ offer to contribute an amount equal to $25 per roster member per sport to the City’s and School District’s Athletic Facilities Preservation Funds, with the exact amount of said contribution to be allocated to each of the funds to be jointly determined by the City Council and the sports clubs; and,

Resolved Further, that the Commission recommends that the City Council address how athletic facility replacement projects will be proposed and prioritized.

Public testimony and comment is encouraged. Written comments should be directed to the Piedmont City Council c/o City Clerk, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611 or by email to jtulloch@ci.piedmont.ca.us.