The failed fee schedule — unanimously approved by the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission on July 2 — would have charged groups like the American Youth Soccer Organization and baseball little leagues $4 an hour in the first year of the new policy.
The hourly rate would have increased incrementally to $14 by 2013.
The charges to AYSO and Glendale’s little leagues in the first year were projected to bring in combined $79,000 for parks officials to maintain 12 city fields and their facilities.
But youth sports organizers said forcing fees for what has historically been free access to Glendale’s sports fields would be financially devastating.
And an apparent miscommunication between them and parks officials in developing the fee schedule also weakened its ability to gain muster with the City Council.
Now, as AYSO’s season continues into its fifth week, parks officials plan to do what they can to maintain the playing fields with reduced baseball field dragging, less frequent mowing and outfield hole repairs.
Youth sports organizers have promised to chip in with volunteer work and other donations to maintain the fields, city officials said.
In addition to the reduced grooming schedule, youth sports organizers may also have to wait two to three weeks to have field maintenance issues addressed, if they’re not denied altogether due to lack of resources, according to the city report.
“It’s just a tough fiscal climate,” said Community Services Administrator Brittney Bilotti.
Baseball little leagues have yet to enter the seasonal fray, but already the fields are being pummeled by AYSO’s ever-growing youth membership.
