Sports groups might pay more to use Moorpark fields

Groups in Moorpark might have to pay more to use sports fields in the city.

The Moorpark Parks and Recreation Commission on Monday recommended that local youth sports organizations pay an hourly fee for sports facilities as part of their new agreements with the city.

City staff members recommended the higher fees because of greater demand for facilities and constraints on funding for park maintenance.

Youth sports organizations have been allowed to use city sports facilities for official games and practices at a fee of $1 per year for outdoor sports facilities and at a significantly reduced rate for indoor sports facilities.

The commission recommends that the groups pay $9.75 per hour to use athletic fields and $20 per hour to use gymnasiums. The fees will be phased in over three years.

The commission also recommended that at least 80 percent of the players must be Moorpark residents to retain rights under the agreement.

The fees need the approval of the Moorpark City Council.

The commission made its recommendation after 13 speakers representing sports organizations expressed concerns about having to pay for the fees.

Joseph Johns from the Moorpark Soccer Club said the fees to play will go from $1 to more than $10,000 and could eliminate the group's $7,000 scholarship fund for poor and disadvantaged children.

Lisa Houston, a mother of two daughters who play with the Moorpark Soccer Club, joined other speakers who had concerns with city staff's original recommendation to charge "competitive" teams higher fees than "recreational" teams.

The commission ended up recommending that all teams pay the same, and that only nonprofit, Moorpark-based youth sports organizations have use agreements.

While some sports organizations have donated money for maintenance costs of parks, that amount won't be deducted from the fees, city officials said.

Jeremy Laurentowski, parks and landscape manager, said the fees will cover "bare-bone maintenance costs" that include mowing, watering and fertilization.

Laurentowski said the park maintenance budget is $1.5 million. About 30 percent comes from the city's special assessment tax, which all residents pay, and about $1 million comes from the general fund.

The commission on Monday also recommended goals and objectives the council will weigh during its budget considerations for fiscal year 2012-13, which begins in July.

Priorities recommended include construction of a public park on Second Street; installation of lighting at the east parking lots, soccer fields and multipurpose court at Arroyo Vista Community Park; and consideration of options for funding, construction and maintenance of an aquatic facility.

The commission also recommended that a freestyle BMX facility remain an objective.

Commission Chairman Patrick Ellis said he would like to see the roller hockey court at Arroyo Vista Community Park be considered for BMX use.

The commission and council will have a joint meeting in April to discuss the priorities and objectives.