sr-010880-11cSanta Monica, Califor ,December 28, 1979 /
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T0: Mayor and City Council d i~`~1
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Electrical Charges -- Youth Athletic Field
Introduction
City Council, during their meeting
prepare an ordinance or resolution
for "youth outdoor field organized
assist Council in consideration of
agenda item 12(B), whereby Santa M~
lighting fees.
of December 11, 1979, directed staff to
whereby Council might consider removing fees
activities". This report is offered to
current policy, in response to discussion of
mica Little League requested a waiver of
Background
Resolution No. 5120 (CCS), adopted and approved by the City Council on
November 14, 1978, states: E (1) Athletic Fields - Resident youth groups will
pay only for the electricity based upon the kilowatt charge per hour and the
City overhead factor. (See attached).
Staff based current fees on electrical costs according to power company rates.
Hourly costs for each field ranged from $3.00 to $13.80. The fee was determined
by calculating an average hourly fee of $11.85. A separate hourly fee of
$5.90 was determined for each little league field.
The fees went into effect for youth sports at the beginning of the 1979 soccer/
football season. The youth organizations affected by the new fees were the
largest users, American Youth Soccer Organization (A.Y.S.O.) and the Santa
Monica Boys' Club flag football program. Staff attempted to reduce the severity
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T0: Mayor and City' ancil DecemE_ 28, 1979
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of impact by allowing payment to be bra ken into installments. Schedules for
lighting are submitted to the Recreation and parks Department along with each
application for permit and payment in advance, usually monthly. The lights are
regulated by Recreation Leaders, who turn the lights on and off according
to schedule.
Records to datr indicate the A.Y.S.O. overall field use increased in 1979
over 1978 usage, but that night use requiring lights have decreased by at
least 10%. As of the end of November 1979, fees paid for electrical use by
the A.Y.S. O, were:
September......,...10 hours....... ..$ 118.50
October............57 hours......:..... 675.45
November...........88 hours.... 1,042:80
Total: $1,83fi.75
Santa Monica Boys' Club had paid:
September...........0 hours............$ 0.00
October........... .0 hours<.......:... 0.00
November...........18 hours.. 213:30
Total: $ 213.30
A comparison of records on use by the Boys' Club for these three months (1978
to 1979) reveals that overall field use had increased 311%, while electrical
use had decreased by 50%.
It would appear that, while growth of both of these organizations has increased
the need for field space, each has effectively adjusted their scheduling to
decrease the necessity for night use of lighted fields. This cooperation has
resulted in an overall energy savings for the City.
T0: Mayor and City uncil
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D~ amber 28, 1979
Staff projects electrical costs to youth. organizations for the upcoming baseball
season as follows:.
Little League... .............. $6,000 - $8,000
Pony Colt Baseball. ......... $7,000- $9,000
Western Boys Baseball Assoc...... $ 140 - $ 150
These estimates are based on night use during prior seasons. The cost would
decrease if schedules were adjusted to utilize more daylight hours and less
lighted hours,. as both the A.Y.S.O. and the Santa Monica Boys' Club .have done.
Alternatives
1. Council may decide to maintain the present fees and charges policy to
charge for electrical use by youth outdoor field organized activities.
2. Council may change current policy'to abolish electrical-charges for youth
outdoor field organized activities by adopting attached resolution.
Recommendation
Staff recommends Alternative No. i, to maintain the present fees and charges
policy to charge for electrical use by youth. outdoor field organized activities.
Prepared by: Donald T. Arnett, Director
Recreation and Parks
DTA:td
Attachments