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Oldsmar's sports-fee proposal ruffles some feathers, but the council tells the city manager to negotiate with large groups, such as the Little League.
By ED QUIOCO
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 10, 2000
OLDSMAR -- Youth sports leagues protesting a city plan to charge non-residents for using municipal ball fields have gotten a favorable call from the City Council.
The concern: The proposed fees would financially burden the leagues, which have many players who don't live inside Oldsmar's city limits.
The ruling: Each league will be able to negotiate the terms of the fees.
"I think it is to everyone's advantage that we attempt to reach some kind of accommodation," Mayor Jeff Sandler said at a City Council meeting Wednesday night. "I think we have to recognize that for certain people this is going to be a financial burden."
The plan would make non-residents who use city fields and recreation programs pay higher fees than Oldsmar residents. The city's Parks and Recreation Department has proposed issuing recreation cards and charging higher user fees to recreation program participants who don't live in the city.
Under the plan, residents would be charged a $3 annual fee for the card and non-residents will have to pay $50 a year for the card, which would be needed to use the city's sports complex Canal Park. The city also plans to offer a $20 athletic season card for non-residents who participate in the sports leagues.
Oldsmar Little League officials and members of the Noon Optimist Club of Oldsmar told council members that some families would have trouble paying the additional fees and asked for a compromise.
Little League officials said their players are forced to play in the district where they live. That's means some East Lake, Palm Harbor and Safety Harbor children have no choice but to play in the Oldsmar Little League.
"This user fee, the way it has been handled . . . seems punitive," said Larry Liebling, a league fundraising coordinator. "It would split our league, and it would be a financial burden on our league."
Sandler assured him that the new fees were not meant to harm the league. The purpose would be to get non-resident players and families, who do not pay taxes to Oldsmar, to help support the city's sports complex at Canal Park where they play.
"It is certainly not my intention, nor do I believe it is the intention of anyone up here, to punish or harm the Little League," Sandler said.
Liebling said the Little League has contributed plenty to the city and continues to do so. The league is currently wrapping up a 4-year fundraising drive that has netted more than $150,000 to help pay for five additional ball fields.
"I am a little sensitive about the idea that our Little League or any Little League does not pay its way in the community," Liebling said. "Not only do we pour our blood, sweat and tears into the children of this community, but we have been out raising money for you . . . to improve the land."
Instead of paying the city's proposed non-resident and resident fees, Little League officials proposed to pay a $15 annual fee for each player, no matter where they live.
Council members opted for the more flexible route of allowing City Manager Bruce Haddock to negotiate with each league the terms of the new fees. The city also has youth leagues for soccer and football.
"All I'm saying is let the city manager and the leagues negotiate it . . . and then we vote on it," Sandler said.
In October, Little League board members sent the City Council a lengthy, scathing letter threatening to bring families and children in uniform by the busload to the council meeting to protest the fees.
That did not happen.
Also at the meeting, council members took the first step in changing the requirements to be able to hire and fire Oldsmar's three charter officials, the City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney.
Currently, it takes a four-fifths majority to hire or fire the three officials. Council members unanimously approved additional discussions on changing that requirement. One suggestion is to change it to a three-fifths vote. Another suggestion is to change the requirement so that it would take a three-fifths vote to fire a charter official, but council members would have to vote again in 14 days to make it official.
If council members agree to change it, the issue will be placed on a ballot and voters would have the final say.
- Staff writer Ed Quioco can be reached at (813) 445-4183 or quioco@sptimes.com.