Moorpark City Council to Consider Youth Sports Fees

Moorpark City Council members are predicting a busy night Wednesday, when they gather for the council's regularly scheduled meeting to discuss some issues that have seen charged debate previously.

Top on the council's agenda is considering changing the youth sports organization use agreement policy and fees for city facilities. Currently, the organizations pay a fee of $1 per year to use the city's outdoor sports facilities for games and practices and a significantly reduced rate for indoor facilities. The city also gives these organizations priority to use the facilities.

Now, because demand for facilities is growing and the parks' conditions are declining due to heavy use (poor turf conditions and such),  park maintenance costs are rising and because the city is facing funding constraints, the city is considering changing current policy. Suggestions including charging organizations a per-hour rate, charging out-of-city residents a special fee (because they don't pay into park assessment fees, which contribute to keeping parks open) and increasing park assessment fees citywide have been suggested.

The council will also consider doing away with the city's prohibition on soliciting work while on public right of ways. City code currently states "It is unlawful for any person, while standing in any portion of the public right-of-way . . . to solicit, or attempt to solicit, employment, business or contributions of money or other property from any person traveling in a vehicle along a public right-of-way..." It is also against the code for any person to solicit or attempt to solicit employment, etc., while the occupant of a vehicle on a public right-of-way.

The issue comes before the council after the city received a letter from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund demanding the repeal. After reviewing the letter and recent court rulings by the Ninth Circuit Court and the Supreme Court's refusal to reconsider the Circuit Court's ruling in regards to a similar code in the city of Redondo Beach, the city attorney is advising eliminating the part of the city code prohibiting such behavior. The Ninth Circuit found the "law regulates significantly more speech than is necessary to achieve the city's purpose of improving traffic safety," according to a Moorpark city staff report.

Finally, the council will consider the mid-year budget report, proposals for city attorney services, and a vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 799 Moorpark Ave.